Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Candy-like heterojunction nanocomposite of WO3/Fe2O3-based semiconductor gas sensor for the detection of triethylamine

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Microchimica Acta Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A highly efficient gas sensor for the detection of triethylamine based on candy-like WO3/Fe2O3 nanocomposite was prepared. The control of morphology and sensing performance of n–n heterojunction WO3/Fe2O3 nanocomposites were successfully achieved by the modulation of Fe element content. When the ratio of Fe to W is 0.4, the candy-like nanocomposite of WO3/Fe2O3 with great performance is obtained. It is interesting that the candy-like nanocomposite of WO3/Fe2O3 with a large specific surface area exhibits better selectivity and sensitivity for sensing TEA gases at a lower operating temperature (260 °C) compared with the gas sensor prepared by using WO3 alone. To verify the feasibility, the sensing mechanism was investigated and real sample tests were conducted and discussed. Finally, a TEA gas sensor with low limit of detection, short response/recovery time (15/162 s), and high sensitivity was developed. In addition, the prepared gas sensor has satisfactory stability and selectivity and has practical application value.

Graphical Abstract

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Zhang K, Xie K, Ahmed MM, Chai Z, Zhao R, Li J et al (2022) Cr-doped SnO2 microrods adhering nanoparticles for enhanced triethylamine sensing performance. Mater Lett 312:131684

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Zhang M, Zhao Z, Hui B, Sun J, Sun J, Tian W et al (2021) Carbonized polymer dots activated hierarchical tungsten oxide for efficient and stable triethylamine sensor. J Hazard Mater 416:126161

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Akesson B, Skerfving S, Mattiasson L (1988) Experimental-study on the metabolism of triethylamine in man. Br J Ind Med 45:262–268

    CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Xu Y, Liu Y, Zhu J, Wang E (2013) Discovered triethylamine as impurity in synthetic DNAs for and by electrochemiluminescence techniques. Talanta 116:308–314

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Kitney S, Sajedin S, Rocher V, Cheng F, Kelly S (2017) Silicon diimide gel as an efficient stationary phase in thin layer chromatography for acid-sensitive organic compounds. Chem Commun 53:11080–11082

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Xiao W, Oefner P (2001) Denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography: a review. Hum Mutat 17:439–474

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Cortes H, Winniford B, Luong J, Pursch M (2009) Comprehensive two dimensional gas chromatography review. J Sep Sci 32:883–904

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Choi S, Bonyani M, Sun G-J, Lee JK, Hyun SK, Lee C (2018) Cr2O3 nanoparticle-functionalized WO3 nanorods for ethanol gas sensors. Appl Surf Sci 432:241–249

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Yang B, Myung NV, Tran TT (2021) 1D Metal oxide semiconductor materials for chemiresistive gas sensors: a review. Adv Electron Mater 9:7–2100271

    Google Scholar 

  10. Choi S-J, Lee I, Jang B-H, Youn D-Y, Ryu W-H, Park CO et al (2013) Selective diagnosis of diabetes using Pt-functionalized WO3 hemitube networks as a sensing layer of acetone in exhaled breath. Anal Chem 85:1792–1796

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Abideen ZU, Katoch A, Kim J-H, Kwon YJ, Kim HW, Kim SS (2015) Excellent gas detection of ZnO nanofibers by loading with reduced graphene oxide nanosheets. Sens Actuators B: Chem 221:1499–1507

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Adib M, Eckstein R, Hernandez-Sosa G, Sommer M, Lemmer U (2018) SnO2 nanowire-based aerosol jet printed electronic nose as fire detector. IEEE Sens J 18:494–500

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Ma S, Jia J, Tian Y, Cao L, Shi S, Li X et al (2016) Improved H2S sensing properties of Ag/TiO2 nanofibers. Ceram Int 42:2041–2044

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Bai S, Chen S, Chen L, Zhang K, Luo R, Li D et al (2012) Ultrasonic synthesis of MoO3 nanorods and their gas sensing properties. Sens Actuators B: Chem 174:51–58

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Han D, Zhai L, Gu F, Wang Z (2018) Highly sensitive NO2 gas sensor of ppb-level detection based on In2O3 nanobricks at low temperature. Sens Actuators B: Chem 262:655–663

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Wang C, Zhang Y, Sun X, Sun Y, Liu F, Yan X et al (2020) Preparation of Pd/PdO loaded WO3 microspheres for H2S detection. Sens Actuators B: Chem 321:128629

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Zhang B, Li Y, Luo N, Xu X, Sun G, Wang Y et al (2020) TiO2/ZnCo2O4 porous nanorods: synthesis and temperature-dependent dual selectivity for sensing HCHO and TEA. Sens Actuators B: Chem 321:128461

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Yan Y, Chen G, She P, Zhong G, Yan W, Guan BY et al (2020) Mesoporous nanoarchitectures for electrochemical energy conversion and storage. Adv Mater 32:2004654

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Xu W, Lyu F, Bai Y, Gao A, Feng J, Cai Z et al (2018) Porous cobalt oxide nanoplates enriched with oxygen vacancies for oxygen evolution reaction. Nano Energy 43:110–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Guo Z, Chen G, Zeng G, Liu L, Zhang C (2015) Metal oxides and metal salt nanostructures for hydrogen sulfide sensing: mechanism and sensing performance. RSC Adv 5:54793–54805

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Zhai C, Luo Z, Liang X, Song X, Zhang M (2021) A superior selective and anti-jamming performance triethylamine sensing sensor based on hierarchical WO3 nanoclusters. J Alloys Compd 857:157545

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Zhai CB, Zhu MM, Jiang L, Yang TY, Zhao Q, Luo Y, Zhang MZ (2019) Fast triethylamine gas sensing response properties of nanosheets assembled WO3 hollow microspheres. Appl Surf Sci 463:1078–1084

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Ma Y, Yang J, Yuan Y, Zhao H, Shi Q, Zhang F, Pei C, Liu B, Yang H (2017) Enhanced gas sensitivity and sensing mechanism of network structures assembled from α-Fe2O3 Nanosheets with Exposed 104 Facets. Langmuir 33:8671–8678

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Kumar R, Al-Dossary O, Kumar G, Umar A (2015) Zinc oxide nanostructures for NO2 gas-sensor applications: a review. Nano-Micro Lett 7:97–120

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Zhou T, Zhang T (2021) Recent progress of nanostructured sensing materials from 0D to 3D: overview of structure–property-application relationship for gas sensors. Small Methods 5:2100515

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Wang H, Wang C, Cui X, Qin L, Ding R, Wang L et al (2018) Design and facile one-step synthesis of FeWO4/Fe2O3 di-modified WO3 with super high photocatalytic activity toward degradation of quasi-phenothiazine dyes. Appl Catal B 221:169–178

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Zhang J, Huang Z, Du Y, Wu X, Shen H, Jing G (2020) Atomic-scale insights into the nature of active sites in Fe2O3-supported submonolayer WO3 catalysts for selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3. Chem Eng J 381:122668

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Wang Z, Fan X, Han D, Gu F (2016) Structural and electronic engineering of 3DOM WO3 by alkali metal doping for improved NO2 sensing performance. Nanoscale 8:10622–10631

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Gu F, Cui Y, Han D, Hong S, Flytzani-Stephanopoulos M, Wang M (2019) Atomically dispersed Pt (II) on WO3 for highly selective sensing and catalytic oxidation of triethylamine. Appl Catal B 256:117809

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Sun JH, Shu X, Tian YL, Tong ZF, Bai SL, Luo RX, Li DQ, Chen AF (2017) Preparation of polypyrrole@WO3 hybrids with p-n heterojunction and sensing performance to triethylamine at room temperature. Sens Actuators B: Chem 238:510–517

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Zhao W, Zou J, Qu S, Qin P, Chen X, Ding S et al (2021) Plasmon-mediated 2D/2D phase junction for improved photocatalytic hydrogen generation activity. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 13:44440–44450

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Yin R, Chen J, Mi J, Liu H, Yan T, Shan L et al (2022) Breaking the activity−selectivity trade-off for simultaneous catalytic elimination of nitric oxide and chlorobenzene via FeVO4−Fe2O3 interfacial charge transfer. ACS Catal 12:3797–3806

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Lou C, Li Z, Yang C, Liu X, Zheng W, Zhang J (2021) Rational design of ordered porous SnO2/ZrO2 thin films for fast and selective triethylamine detection with humidity resistance. Sens Actuators B: Chem 333:129572

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 22264025), the Yunnan Province Education Department Scientific Research Foundation Project (No. 2022J0136), and the Applied Basic Research Foundation of Yunnan Province (Nos. 202201AS070020, 202201AU070061).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Provincial Key Laboratory of Rural Energy Engineering in Yunnan, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, 650500, China

    Zhengfang Qu, Yunxiao Li, Rui Xu, Huabin Wang & Yong Zhang

  2. Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Chemical Manufacturing and Accurate Detection, Key Laboratory of Interfacial Reaction & Sensing Analysis in Universities of Shandong, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Jinan, Jinan, 250022, China

    Zhengfang Qu, Chenchen Li, Huan Wang & Qin Wei

Authors
  1. Zhengfang Qu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yunxiao Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rui Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Chenchen Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Huan Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Huabin Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Yong Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Qin Wei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yong Zhang.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Additional information

Publisher's note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Supplementary Information

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary file1 (DOCX 737 KB)

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Qu, Z., Li, Y., Xu, R. et al. Candy-like heterojunction nanocomposite of WO3/Fe2O3-based semiconductor gas sensor for the detection of triethylamine. Microchim Acta 190, 139 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-023-05699-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-023-05699-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation