Gas-sensing Performance Research Articles

Construction of heterojunction based on Nd2S3 and tin dioxide for rapid detection of ethanol

The gas-sensing properties of Nd2S3 have not been previously explored. In this study, a novel composite material comprising rare-earth metal sulfide (Nd2S3) and metal oxide (SnO2) was successfully prepared using a two-step hydrothermal method for the rapid detection of ethanol. Characterization results revealed that the morphology and specific surface area of Nd2S3-SnO2 remained largely unchanged after composite formation. However, the built-in electric field established between Nd2S3 and SnO2 significantly enhanced carrier transport and separation. Additionally, the introduction of extra oxygen vacancies increased the content of chemisorbed oxygen, providing more active sites for ethanol molecules, thereby improving the gas-sensing performance. The Nd2S3-SnO2 sensor demonstrated extremely high detection accuracy (R2=0.9965) over the 20–300 ppm ethanol concentration range, with response/recovery time of 8/274 s at 100 ppm ethanol concentration and response value of 93. It also possesses excellent selectivity to ethanol, long-term stability and reversibility. This work represents a preliminary exploration of the gas-sensing properties of Nd2S3 and its underlying mechanisms through the construction of a heterojunction structure between metal sulfide and metal oxide.

Highly sensitive and low-temperature triethylamine sensor based on in situ growth of hierarchical α-MoO3 flowers

To challenge high working temperature of present triethylamine (TEA) sensor, well-defined hierarchical α-MoO3 flowers were in situ grown on Al2O3 tubes through a simple solvothermal method. The α-MoO3 flowers were about 3 μm in diameter consisted of overlapping nanosheets with average thickness of ∼30 nm, growing radially from the center of the flowers. The α-MoO3 flowers in situ grew on Al2O3 tubes to constitute the thin film sensors, which exhibited improved gas-sensing performance to TEA compared to the thick film sensors painted with the powder of α-MoO3 produced in the same reaction system. The average response value of the α-MoO3 thin film sensors to 10 ppm TEA was 243.5 at relatively low operating temperature of 133 °C, which was 4.5 times as high as that of the thick film sensors (54.2). And the detection limit of the thin film sensors to TEA is further decreased to 0.001 ppm compared to the α-MoO3 thick film ones. The superior TEA-sensing capability should be attributed to the hierarchical nanostructure grown in situ that supplies more active sites for gas molecule adsorption and electron transfer. The synthesized α-MoO3 flowers with hierarchical nanostructure are promising material for trace TEA detection in practical application.

New Parameter for Benchmarking Plasmonic Gas Sensors Demonstrated with Densely Packed Au Nanoparticle Layers.

Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) gas sensitivity is introduced as a new parameter to evaluate the performance of plasmonic gas sensors. A model is proposed to consider the plasmonic sensors' surface sensitivity and plasmon decay length and correlate the LSPR response, measured upon gas exchange, with an equivalent refractive index change consistent with adsorbed gas layers. To demonstrate the applicability of this new parameter, ellipsoidal gold nanoparticles (NPs) arranged in densely packed hexagonal lattices were fabricated. The main advantages of these sensors are the small and tunable interparticle gaps (18-29 nm) between nanoparticles (diameters: 72-88 nm), with their robust and scalable fabrication technology that allows the well-ordered arrangement to be maintained on a large (cm2 range) area. The LSPR response of the sensors was tested using an LSPR sensing system by switching the gas atmosphere between inorganic gases, namely He/Ar and Ar/CO2, at constant pressure and room temperature. It was shown that this newly proposed parameter can be generally used for benchmarking plasmonic gas sensors and is independent of the type and pressure of the tested gases for a sensor structure. Furthermore, it resolves the apparent disagreement when comparing the response of plasmonic sensors tested in liquids and gases.

Bismuth Sulfide Nanorod/Vanadium Carbide MXene as Nitrogen Dioxide Gas Sensor Operating at Room Temperature under Ultraviolet-Assisted Recovery

Bismuth Sulfide Nanorod/Vanadium Carbide MXene as Nitrogen Dioxide Gas Sensor Operating at Room Temperature under Ultraviolet-Assisted Recovery

Evolution of surface and interface in soluble acene/polymer blends and its critical effects on gas diffusion dynamics in gas sensors

Organic field-effect transistor (OFET)-based gas sensors are highly valued for their sensitivity, cost-effectiveness, and operation at room temperature, making them ideal candidates for gas detection applications. For gas sensor performance, gas molecules must not only adsorb onto the organic semiconductor surface but also diffuse into the organic semiconductor-insulator interface that the conductive channel is formed. Therefore, the thickness of the active OSC layer is crucial in determining the efficiency of gas diffusion and the overall sensing response. This study analyzed the impact of semiconductor thin film thickness on gas sensing properties by adjusting the thickness of crystalline organic semiconductors. Using 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene (TIPS-pentacene), known for its excellent response toward NO2, surface and interface characteristics were modulated through a blend approach. With all other conditions constant, the semiconductor film thickness significantly influenced NO2 detection properties, with the highest sensitivity observed in films around 10 nm thick. A quantitative analysis using Langmuir isotherms demonstrated that reducing the OSC layer thickness from 20 nm to 10 nm could enhance the response speed by a factor of five. Furthermore, the limit of detection (LOD) for TIPS-pentacene films at this reduced thickness was found to be in the low parts per billion (ppb) range.

Chemiresistive triethylamine detection based on the novel Ti3C2Tx/Co-BDC gas sensor

Triethylamine (TEA), a representative volatile organic environmental pollutant, poses significant environmental pollution risks and can adversely affect the liver and nervous system, potentially leading to fatal outcomes. However, existing gas sensors for TEA detection have pressing drawbacks, such as safety hazards associated with high-temperature operation and poor timeliness due to time-consuming testing. Herein, the Ti3C2Tx/Co-BDC sensor demonstrates ultra-sensitive detection of TEA at a low temperature of 100 °C. This temperature is below the threshold for explosion-proof operation, ensuring safe application in flammable and explosive environments. Meanwhile, the introduction of the metal-like MXene with ultra-high conductivity accelerates the response and recovery process (11 s/20 s), facilitating highly efficient TEA detection within a sub-minute timeframe. The Ti-O-Co interfacial bonds between Ti3C2Tx and Co-BDC, confirmed by both XPS analysis and theoretical calculations, enhance carrier mobility across the two materials, significantly boosting gas-sensing performance. The rapid detection of TEA at low temperatures makes the Ti3C2Tx/Co-BDC sensor more suitable for practical environmental monitoring in flammable and explosive areas, further contributing to human health and production safety.

Efficient Formaldehyde Gas Sensing Performance via Promotion of Oxygen Vacancy on In-Doped LaFeO3 Nanofibers.

Perovskite oxide LaFeO3(LFO) emerges as a potential candidate for formaldehyde (HCHO) detection due to its exceptional electrical conductivity and abundant active metal sites. However, the sensitivity of the LFO sensor needs to be further enhanced. Herein, a series of LaxIn1-xFeO3 (x = 1.0, 0.9, 0.8, and 0.7) nanofibers (LxIn1-xFO NFs) with different ratios of La/In were obtained via the electrospinning method followed by a calcination process. Among all these LxIn1-xFO NFs sensors, the sensor based on the L0.8In0.2FO NFs possessed the maximum response value of 18.8 to 100 ppm HCHO at the operating temperature of 180 °C, which was 4.47 times higher than that based on pristine LFO NFs (4.2). Furthermore, the L0.8In0.2FO NFs sensor also exhibited a rapid response/recovery time (2 s/22 s), exceptional repeatability, and long-term stability. This excellent gas sensing performance of the L0.8In0.2FO NFs can be attributed to the large number of oxygen vacancies induced by the replacement of the A-site La3+ by In3+, the large specific surface area, and the porous structure. This research presents an approach to enhance the HCHO gas sensing capabilities by adjusting the introduced oxygen vacancies through the doping of A-sites in perovskite oxides.

Mn Doped MoO3 with Self-Assembled Nanoflowers Structure and Enhanced Gas Sensing Properties to Triethylamine

Increasing quality of life requires low power consumption and reliable gas sensing technology for real-time monitoring of the environment. Herein, based on the principle of ion compensation and charge compensation, Mn-doped MoO3 self-assembled nanoflowers were designed and prepared, and their gas-sensing performance were studied. Benefiting from abundant defective sites and surface chemical state changes, the sensor exhibits superior characteristics for triethylamine detection, including ultrahigh response (436.9), short response time (7 s), small detection limit (1 ppm), and remarkable selectivity. The gas-sensitive mechanism of M-MoO3 was explained from the points of view of charge compensation and ion compensation, and it was proved that the incorporation of Mn into MoO3 was an effective way to improve its gas sensitivity. This work provides a potential strategy for widespread triethylamine detection and provides new ideas for the design of high-performance sensors.

Significantly energy‐efficient ethanol sensor based on bougainvillea‐like Au/ZnO hierarchical nanostructured materials

AbstractThe energy consumption of MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) sensors has always been a challenge in improving their performance. In this study, bougainvillea‐like Au/ZnO nanostructures were successfully synthesized using the hydrothermal method and the sol fixation technique. The composition, crystallinity, crystal structure, and morphology of the materials were characterized using X‐ray diffraction, energy‐dispersive spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy. The experimental results confirm the successful synthesis of a substantial quantity of bougainvillea‐like Au/ZnO nanostructures through nanoparticle self‐assembly. The sensitive performance of the bougainvillea‐like Au/ZnO sensor was evaluated using a CGS‐8 intelligent gas‐sensitive analysis system. Results demonstrate that modification of ZnO with Au in a bougainvillea‐like nanostructure significantly enhances sensitivity to ethanol vapor compared to those of unmodified material sensors. Specifically, the optimal work temperature was greatly reduced by 64%, whereas the sensitivity increased approximately 12 times and the response time decreased nearly 5 times. The significantly enhanced ethanol sensitivity can be attributed to the precious metal modification and unique three‐dimensional morphology. It provides the necessary experimental exploration for reducing energy consumption and improving the performance of MOS gas sensors.

An Enhanced YSZ Gas Sensor through Optimizing Electrode Thickness for ppb-level H2S Detection

Nowadays, there is uncertainty regarding the impact of sensing electrode thickness on the gas sensing performance of mixed potential gas sensors due to simultaneous competitive heterogeneous catalytic reaction and electrochemical reaction. In this study, yttrium oxide doped zirconia gas sensors with varying thickness of NiFe2O4 sensing electrode have been fabricated for H2S gas detection. The operating temperature of yttrium oxide doped zirconia gas sensors have been firstly optimized, followed by a systematic study of the effects of NiFe2O4 sensing electrode thickness on H2S sensing performance. The best sensing performance have been achieved for the yttrium oxide doped zirconia gas sensor with a 10 μm-thick sensing electrode (S-10 sensor). Sensitivities of −8.7 and −44.6 mV/decade have been attained for 10–100 ppb and 100–10000 ppb, respectively, with a lower limit of detection as low as 10 ppb at 510 °C for the S-10 sensor. Furthermore, the potential application of the S-10 sensor in halitosis detection was further evaluated using simulated exhaled breath from patient with halitosis and healthy volunteers. The significant change in human exhaled gas response values detect by the S-10 sensor at different times provide additional support for the prospect of diagnosing halitosis.

The synergistic effect of La dopant/willow catkins template on SnO2 monotubes for efficient detection of triethylamine

The detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as triethylamine (TEA) is essential for maintaining air quality and human health. This study explores the synergistic effects of lanthanum (La) doping and the use of willow catkins as a template for the performance of SnO₂ gas sensors for TEA detection. The morphology and structure of the as-synthesized samples were investigated, and a series of experiments were conducted to explore the TEA sensing characterization of SnO2-based sensors. The results of gas sensing demonstrated that the response of La2-SnO₂ sensors is up to about 178 at 100 ppm TEA, showing a 45 % increase compared to pure SnO₂ with a detection limit as low as 5 ppb. The fabricated sensors demonstrated a rapid response time of 60 s and a recovery time of 98 s at 100 ppm TEA concentration. Moreover, the sensors showed stable and repeatable responses over multiple cycles, indicating excellent reproducibility and long-term stability. The enhanced TEA sensing performance can be attributed to the abundant oxygen vacancies and promising tubular structure, which not only offer more active sites to absorb oxygen species but also promote the adsorption-desorption process of gas molecules. This study highlights the potential of La-doped SnO₂ sensors fabricated using a sustainable willow catkins template as a promising candidate for practical TEA detection applications.

A Janus WSi2P2As2 monolayer: A promising material for detecting NO2 with excellent sensitivity, selectivity, reversibility, and humidity resistance

Realizing highly sensitive, selective, humidity-resistant, and reversible detection of hazardous gas molecules with low detection limit in the air environment at room temperature is essential. Herein, we predict a novel two-dimensional Janus WSi2P2As2 material and propose a NO2 gas sensor with excellent response, selectivity, humidity resistance, and reversibility based on WSi2P2As2, by employing density functional theory, statistical thermodynamic modeling, and the non-equilibrium Green’s function approach. The Janus WSi2P2As2 monolayer is a stable semiconductor with a direct band gap of 0.85 eV and an intrinsic out-of-plane dipole moment. We study the sensing properties of the Janus WSi2P2As2 monolayer towards several typical toxic gases (NO, NO2, NH3, SO2, and H2S). All the gas molecules are physically adsorbed on the surface. Different adsorption energies and electronic structures are found for the top- and bottom-surface adsorptions due to the intrinsic dipole of the Janus WSi2P2As2. The experimental viability is characterized by the adsorption density and the recovery time. The statistical estimation of the adsorption density shows that the oxide gases can be adsorbed practically even at ultra-low concentration of part per billion (ppb) at room temperature. The rapid natural desorption of these toxic gases at 300 K indicates the recyclability of the WSi2P2As2 material. Furthermore, we evaluate the sensing performance of the WSi2P2As2-based gas sensor by the conductance change. The sensor exhibits ultra-response of 374 % and excellent selectivity towards NO2 molecules. Importantly, the sensor remains operating with high performance in the humid environment and air environment. These results demonstrate that the Janus WSi2P2As2 is a promising gas-sensing material for the NO2 detection.

Multifunctional and flexible sensor based on PU-supported Au/VTe2/Ti3C2Tx yarns for human motion and NO2 detection

Given the considerable harm that NO2 poses to the environment and human health, developing reliable NO2 detection sensors is crucial. Herein, a flexible, multifunctional sensor was successfully synthesized through hydrothermal and the wet impregnation methods using an elastic PU yarn as the substrate. This sensor, named Au/VTe2/Ti3C2Tx–PU, was characterized via X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy to analyze its structure, chemical valence states, and micromorphology. At room temperature (23 °C), the sensor demonstrated an exceptionally high response to NO2 gas, with a response value of 1.72 at 50 ppm as well as low response and recovery time of 33 and 38 s. Additionally, testing of the strain performance of Au/VTe2/Ti3C2Tx–PU showed that this flexible sensor exhibits high strain sensitivity, excellent repeatability, and durability, making it suitable for detecting subtle human movements. Overall, the synthesized sensor is in considerable advantages in terms of both gas-sensing performance and tensile performance, exhibiting broad application prospects in human motion and health monitoring.

Preparation and mechanism study of highly sensitive NH3 gas sensor based on Au-modified CdS nanoparticles

A high-performance ammonia (NH3) gas sensor based on Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) modified CdS (Au/CdS) was synthesized by hydrothermal method, and the sensing mechanism of Au/CdS was studied by first-principles based on density functional theory (DFT). Experimental results show that the addition of AuNPs can effectively enhance CdS-based NH3 gas sensor performance. Au/CdS sensor exhibits high response (16580), short response/recovery time (2.25 s/1.25 s), and low limit detection (500 ppb), good repeatability and stability. Because AuNPs can effectively increase the generation of sulfur vacancies on the surface of CdS, increasing the amount of chemisorbed oxygen and providing more active sites for NH3. Furthermore, the good conductivity of AuNPs promotes the separation and transport of carriers on CdS surface, thereby improving the gas sensing performance. DFT calculations indicate that the ionization energy of Au is less than that of Cd, which causes some Cd atoms to lose their coordination with S atoms and increase sulfur vacancies on the surface of CdS. In Au/CdS sensors, sulfur vacancies accelerate the cleavage of NH3, and resulting electrons participate in charge transport, thereby enhancing the adsorption energy. This study introduces a new method for fabricating high performance NH3 sensor based on CdS rich in sulfur vacancies.

Characterization and Ambient Temperature Hydrogen Sulfide Sensing of Annealed NiO-MnO₂ Thin Films Prepared via Jet Nebulizer Spray Pyrolysis

A jet nebulizer spray pyrolysis technique to synthesize NiO-MnO2 thin films was demonstrated. These nanosheets were annealed at 350, 450 and 550 °C for 2 hours. The thin films surface morphology and structure were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, XRD, and UV spectroscopy. Subsequently, utilized as gas sensors for the detection of hydrogen sulphide gas. The introduction of NiO into MnO2 nanosheets significantly improved the gas-sensing performance. Notably, the gas-sensing response of the NiO-MnO2 nanosheet sensor surpassed that of both NiO and MnO2 alone, reaching a notable value of 165 when detecting 100 ppm hydrogen sulfide gas with the NiO-MnO2 thin film sensor. A remarkable feature of the NiO-MnO2 thin film sensor is its accelerated response time, registering at 10 seconds when exposed to 100 ppm of hydrogen sulfide gas. The mechanism underlying gas sensing and the factors contributing to the enhanced gas response of NiO-MnO2 thin film is thoroughly discussed. From a broader perspective, these developed sensors present a novel platform for the identification and monitoring of hydrogen sulfide gas, showcasing significant advancements in gas-sensing technology.

Portable and Hand-Held Ammonia Gas Sensor Enables Noninvasive Prediagnosis of Helicobacter pylori Infection.

Disease diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori (Hp) through human exhaled breath analysis has attracted considerable attention. However, conventional methods, such as carbon 13 (13C) breath test and infrared spectrometers, are facing the challenge of achieving portability and reliability synchronously. Herein, we report a portable and hand-held Hp analyzer using a bimetallic PtRu@SnO2-based gas sensor for the prediagnosis of Hp infection, which is based on detecting ammonia (NH3) as a potential biomarker in exhaled breath. Owing to the surface functionalization through highly catalytically active bimetallic PtRu nanoparticles (NPs) prepared by a photochemical reduction strategy, the PtRu@SnO2-based sensor exhibits high sensitivity and selectivity toward trace-level (200 ppb) NH3 even at high-humidity surroundings (80% RH). Consequently, the designed portable and hand-held Hp analyzer makes the accurate determination of NH3 at 800 ppb in exhaled breath. The tuning of energy band structure and electrical characteristics and the catalytic modulation of NH3 oxidation by PtRu NPs are proposed to be the reasons behind the enhanced NH3 gas-sensing performance, as confirmed by in situ analysis using an online MKS MultiGas 2030 FTIR gas analyzer. This work paves the way for the prediagnosis of Hp infection using a metal oxide gas sensor.

Exploring the role of film thickness and oxygen vacancies on the H2S gas-sensing performance of RF magnetron-sputtered NiO thin films

Exploring the role of film thickness and oxygen vacancies on the H2S gas-sensing performance of RF magnetron-sputtered NiO thin films

Bimetallic MOFs-Derived Metal Oxides Co3O4/SnO2 Microspheres for Ultrahigh Response n-Butanol Gas Sensors.

The construction of p-n heterojunctions is expected to be one of the effective means to improve gas sensitivity. In this research, p-n heterojunctions are successfully constructed by metal oxides derived from metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). MOFs-derived bimetallic Co3O4/SnO2 microspheres are prepared by precipitation. Gas-sensing performance shows that the Co3O4/SnO2 sensor exhibits an extremely high response (Ra/Rg = 641) to 20 ppm of n-butanol at 200 °C, which is 19 times that of pristine SnO2. It can detect n-butanol gas at low concentrations, has good selectivity to alcohol gas, and reduces the interference of benzene gas. The improved gas sensitivity can be attributed to the formation of a stable heterojunction between Co3O4 and SnO2, resulting in a greater resistance change of Co3O4/SnO2. Co3O4/SnO2 inherits the characteristic of high specific surface area of MOFs, which provides abundant sites for the reaction of the target gas and oxygen molecules. Finally, the gas-sensing mechanism of the Co3O4/SnO2-based sensor is discussed in detail.

Chemiresistive flexible gas sensor for NO2 sensing at room-temperature using in situ constructed Au@In2S3/In2O3 hybrid microflowers

The construction of a novel Au nanoparticles loaded In2S3/In2O3 hybrid microflowers composite was conducted through a well-designed hydrothermal and partial oxidation method and used for NO2 sensing at room-temperature (RT). The characterization data confirmed the hybrid structures and demonstrated that the ratio of adsorbed oxygen species on the surface increased after partial oxidation. The sensing performance of flexible gas sensors based on In2S3/In2O3, In2O3, AuxIn2S3/In2O3 (x = 0.5, 1 and 2 wt%) were tested and compared at RT. Heterostructure construction and Au NPs loading significantly improved the sensing properties at RT. Peculiarly, the response value of 1 wt% Au NPs loaded In2S3/In2O3 (Au1In2S3/In2O3) sensor for 100 ppm NO2 at RT was 20.7, which was 9.2 times higher than that of In2O3 sensor. Meanwhile, it also possessed excellent selectivity, fast response/recovery time (12/27 s), good repeatability, long-term and mechanical stability. The outstanding sensing performance for NO2 at RT mainly associated to the heterojunction between In2S3 and In2O3 and the catalytic effect of Au NPs. Finally, density functional theory (DFT) was used to calculate and analyze the gas adsorption and charger transfer, which related to the enhanced sensing performance.

Unraveling the Effect of Oxygen Vacancy on WO3 Surface for Efficient NO2 Detection at Low Temperature.

Oxygen vacancies (VO) in metal oxide semiconductors play an important role in improving gas-sensing performance of chemiresistive gas sensors. Nonetheless, there is still a lack of clear understanding of the inherent mechanism of the influence of oxygen vacancies on gas sensing due to generally focusing on the concentration of VO. Herein, oxygen vacancies were rationally modulated in WO3 nanoflower structures via an annealing process, resulting in a transformation of VO from neutral (VO0) to a doubly ionized (VO2+) state. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations indicate that VO2+ is significantly more efficient than VO0 for NO2 detection in competition with atmospheric O2. Benefiting from a high concentration of VO2+, the WO3-450 (WO3 annealed at 450 °C) sensor exhibits excellent sensing performance with an ultrahigh sensitivity (3674.1 to 5 ppm NO2), superior selectivity, and long-term stability (one month). Furthermore, the sensor with the wide range of concentration detection not only can detect NO2 gas with parts per million (ppm) but also can detect NO2 with parts per billion (ppb) level concentration, with a high sensibility reaching 2.8 to 25 ppb NO2 and over 100 to 100 ppb NO2. This study elucidates the oxygen vacancy mediated sensing mechanism toward NO2 and provides an effective strategy for the rational design of gas sensors with high sensing performance.