Nano-Micro Structure of Metal Oxide Semiconductors for Triethylamine Sensors: ZnO and In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>
Toxic and harmful gases, particularly volatile organic compounds like triethylamine, pose significant risks to human health and the environment. As a result, metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) sensors have been widely utilized in various fields, including medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring,...
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MDPI AG
2025-03-01
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| author | Yongbo Fan Lixin Song Weijia Wang Huiqing Fan |
| author_facet | Yongbo Fan Lixin Song Weijia Wang Huiqing Fan |
| author_sort | Yongbo Fan |
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| description | Toxic and harmful gases, particularly volatile organic compounds like triethylamine, pose significant risks to human health and the environment. As a result, metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) sensors have been widely utilized in various fields, including medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, food processing, and chemical production. Extensive research has been conducted worldwide to enhance the gas-sensing performance of MOS materials. However, traditional MOS materials suffer from limitations such as a small specific surface area and a low density of active sites, leading to poor gas sensing properties—characterized by low sensitivity and selectivity, high detection limits and operating temperatures, as well as long response and recovery times. To address these challenges in triethylamine detection, this paper reviews the synthesis of nano-microspheres, porous micro-octahedra, and hollow prism-like nanoflowers via chemical solution methods. The triethylamine sensing performance of MOS materials, such as ZnO and In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, can be significantly enhanced through nano-morphology control, electronic band engineering, and noble metal loading. Additionally, strategies, including elemental doping, oxygen vacancy modulation, and structural morphology optimization, have been employed to achieve ultra-high sensitivity in triethylamine detection. This review further explores the underlying mechanisms responsible for the improved gas sensitivity. Finally, perspectives on future research directions in triethylamine gas sensing are provided. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-26e6a7cae4ee479b854ca37a3642bf7c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj-art-26e6a7cae4ee479b854ca37a3642bf7c2025-08-20T03:43:31ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912025-03-0115642710.3390/nano15060427Nano-Micro Structure of Metal Oxide Semiconductors for Triethylamine Sensors: ZnO and In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>Yongbo Fan0Lixin Song1Weijia Wang2Huiqing Fan3Department of Applied Physics, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Hong Kong 100872, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Solidiffcation Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Solidiffcation Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Solidiffcation Processing, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi’an 710072, ChinaToxic and harmful gases, particularly volatile organic compounds like triethylamine, pose significant risks to human health and the environment. As a result, metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) sensors have been widely utilized in various fields, including medical diagnostics, environmental monitoring, food processing, and chemical production. Extensive research has been conducted worldwide to enhance the gas-sensing performance of MOS materials. However, traditional MOS materials suffer from limitations such as a small specific surface area and a low density of active sites, leading to poor gas sensing properties—characterized by low sensitivity and selectivity, high detection limits and operating temperatures, as well as long response and recovery times. To address these challenges in triethylamine detection, this paper reviews the synthesis of nano-microspheres, porous micro-octahedra, and hollow prism-like nanoflowers via chemical solution methods. The triethylamine sensing performance of MOS materials, such as ZnO and In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, can be significantly enhanced through nano-morphology control, electronic band engineering, and noble metal loading. Additionally, strategies, including elemental doping, oxygen vacancy modulation, and structural morphology optimization, have been employed to achieve ultra-high sensitivity in triethylamine detection. This review further explores the underlying mechanisms responsible for the improved gas sensitivity. Finally, perspectives on future research directions in triethylamine gas sensing are provided.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/6/427gas sensormetal oxide semiconductorstriethylaminenano-micro structuremorphologyelectron depletion layer |
| spellingShingle | Yongbo Fan Lixin Song Weijia Wang Huiqing Fan Nano-Micro Structure of Metal Oxide Semiconductors for Triethylamine Sensors: ZnO and In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> Nanomaterials gas sensor metal oxide semiconductors triethylamine nano-micro structure morphology electron depletion layer |
| title | Nano-Micro Structure of Metal Oxide Semiconductors for Triethylamine Sensors: ZnO and In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> |
| title_full | Nano-Micro Structure of Metal Oxide Semiconductors for Triethylamine Sensors: ZnO and In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> |
| title_fullStr | Nano-Micro Structure of Metal Oxide Semiconductors for Triethylamine Sensors: ZnO and In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nano-Micro Structure of Metal Oxide Semiconductors for Triethylamine Sensors: ZnO and In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> |
| title_short | Nano-Micro Structure of Metal Oxide Semiconductors for Triethylamine Sensors: ZnO and In<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> |
| title_sort | nano micro structure of metal oxide semiconductors for triethylamine sensors zno and in sub 2 sub o sub 3 sub |
| topic | gas sensor metal oxide semiconductors triethylamine nano-micro structure morphology electron depletion layer |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/15/6/427 |
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