High performance acetone sensor based on yttria stabilized-zirconia and NiGaxAl2-xO4 (x = 0, 0.6, 1 and 1.4) sensing electrode.

In this paper, YSZ-based high performance acetone sensor was successfully developed for intelligent medical service, environmental monitoring, and safety production of smart city. New type spinel electrode sensing materials NiGa x Al 2-x O 4 (x = 0, 0.6, 1 and 1.4) were synthesized by a sol-gel method. Compared to the other sensing electrode materials, NiGa 0.6 Al 1.4 O 4 had the highest electrochemical catalytic activity to acetone, and the sensor based on NiGa 0.6 Al 1.4 O 4 -SE performed the best sensing performance of −48 mV to 10 ppm acetone. Moreover, the present acetone sensor has a wide detection range of 0.2–1000 ppm, with sensitivity of −45 mV/decade, meeting the field of diabetic non-invasive diagnosis and real-time in-situ environmental monitoring. In addition, the device also performs excellent repeatability, acceptable selectivity, terrific humidity resistance and marvelous long-term stability during continuous measurements over 30 days. Overall, based on its excellent sensing performance, the developed sensor has marvelous application prospects for acetone detection in intelligent medical service, environmental monitoring, and safety production fields of smart city. • NiGa x Al 2-x O 4 were firstly used as sensing electrode for YSZ-based acetone sensor. • The sensor with NiGa 0.6 Al 1.4 O 4 -SE performed the largest response to 10 ppm acetone. • The low detection limit can reach 200 ppb and the detection range is 0.2–1000 ppm • The sensor has excellent repeatability, humidity resistance and long-term stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]