Highly Efficient Gas Sensor Using a Hollow SnO₂ Microfiber for Triethylamine Detection

Abstract

Triethylamine (TEA) gas sensors having excellent response and selectivity are in great demand to monitor the real environment. In this work, we have successfully prepared a hollow SnO₂ microfiber by a unique sustainable biomass conversion strategy and shown that the microfiber can be used in a high-performance gas sensor. The sensor based on the hollow SnO₂ microfiber shows a quick response/recovery toward triethylamine. The response of the hollow SnO₂ microfiber is up to 49.5 when the concentration of TEA gas is 100 ppm. The limit of detection is as low as 2 ppm. Furthermore, the sensor has a relatively low optimal operation temperature of 270 °C, which is lower than those of many other reported sensors. The excellent sensing properties are largely attributed to the high sensitivity provided by SnO₂ and the good permeability and conductivity of the one-dimensional hollow structure. Thus, the hollow SnO₂ microfiber using sustainable biomass as a template is a significant strategy for a unique TEA gas sensor.