Ultra-small TiO2 nanocubes with highly active (0 0 1) facet for acetone fast detection and diagnosis of diabetes

Abstract

Early and painless detection of type-I diabetic patients by detecting acetone concentration in their exhaled breath would be a rapid and effective means. TiO2 materials with exposed active (001) facet were synthesized mostly with HF as raw material, and the particle size was relatively large. In this work, (001) and (101) facets co-doped TiO2 nanocubes with particle size < 50 nm were successfully prepared by a simple one-step hydrothermal process assisted by the ionic liquid ([Bmim][BF4]) as the fluorine source and morphology modifier. Due to the exposure of the active (001) facets, the sensor exhibited good gas response to acetone gas at a low operating working temperature (OWT) of 170 °C with a detection limit as low as 30 ppb and a response time of only 2.2 s for 100 ppm acetone gas, and also relatively excellent selectivity, reproducibility, moisture resistance and long-term stability. It is worthy to point that, the changes of acetone concentration were compared in exhaled gas from healthy people and type-I diabetic patients, and the responses to exhaled gas of type-I diabetic patients were also tracked at different time in the same day. This provides significant convenience for early and painless diagnosis of type-I diabetic patients.