Controlled Synthesis of Tungsten Oxide Nanomaterials with Different Morphologies and Their Gas-Sensing Properties for Formaldehyde in Vegetables

Formaldehyde is illegally applied to vegetables by vendors as a preservative to extend their shelf life, and it poses health risks to consumers. Herein, a series of WO<sub>3</sub> with different morphologies were synthesized and employed as the sensing material in gas sensors to detect f...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Weihao Wu, Yaochong Yang, Cheng Zhao, Xingyu Wang, Yitong Xie, Kexin Jiang, Huafeng Feng, Yongheng Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Biosensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2079-6374/15/7/400
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Summary:Formaldehyde is illegally applied to vegetables by vendors as a preservative to extend their shelf life, and it poses health risks to consumers. Herein, a series of WO<sub>3</sub> with different morphologies were synthesized and employed as the sensing material in gas sensors to detect formaldehyde in vegetables rapidly. Among all the samples, the WO<sub>3</sub> nanoplate sensor exhibited the best sensitivity (16.5@200 ppm), a rapid response/recovery time (10/12 s), superior selectivity, and a low limit of detection (500 ppb). This was mainly attributed to its abundant mesopores and large specific surface area, which enhanced the formaldehyde adsorption capacity and adsorption/desorption rates while providing more active sites, thereby improving the sensor’s response speed and resistance variation range. The WO<sub>3</sub> nanoplate sensor also achieved reliable formaldehyde detection in actual vegetable samples (baby cabbage). This study provides systematic guidance for optimizing the gas-sensing performance of functional materials. It establishes a foundation for developing rapid, non-destructive formaldehyde detection technologies applicable for vegetable quality control.
ISSN:2079-6374