A Highly Selective Acetone Sensor Based on Coal-Based Carbon/MoO₂ Nanohybrid Material.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Chemical Sensing

Background:

• High operating temperatures are a major limitation for gas sensor development.
• Room temperature gas sensors are crucial for practical applications.
• Coal-based materials offer potential for low-cost sensor fabrication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and investigate coal-based porous carbon (C-700) and C/MoO2 nanohybrid materials.
• To evaluate the gas-sensing performance of these materials at room temperature.
• To explore the potential of coal-derived materials for volatile organic compound (VOC) detection.

Main Methods:

• One-step vapor deposition and sintering method for material synthesis.
• Gas-sensing performance evaluation for various VOCs (phenol, ethyl acetate, ethanol, acetone, triethylamine, toluene) and high humidity (95% RH).
• Analysis of sensing mechanisms, focusing on synergistic effects.

Main Results:

• The C/MoO2-450 sample demonstrated excellent selectivity for acetone at room temperature.
• Achieved a high response value of 4153.09% for acetone.
• Exhibited rapid response (10.8 s) and recovery (2.9 s) times, along with good repeatability and stability.

Conclusions:

• The synthesized C/MoO2 nanohybrid materials show superior gas-sensing performance for acetone at room temperature.
• The synergistic effect between porous carbon and MoO2 nanoparticles enhances sensing capabilities.
• This research presents a viable method for utilizing coal-based materials in room-temperature VOC detection.