Anchoring Pt Particles onto Mesoporousized ZnO Holey Cubes for Triethylamine Detection with Multifaceted Superiorities

Designing sensing materials with integrating unique spatial structures, functional units, and surface activity is vital to achieve high-performance gas sensor toward triethylamine (TEA) detection. Herein, a simple spontaneous dissolution is used with subsequent thermal decomposition strategy to fabricate mesoporousized ZnO holey cubes. The squaric acid is crucial to coordinate Zn2+ to form a cubic shape (ZnO-0) and then tailor the inner part to open a holey cube with simultaneously mesoporousizing the left cubic body (ZnO-72). To enhance the sensing performance, the mesoporous ZnO holey cubes have been functionalized with catalytic Pt nanoparticles, which deliver superior performances including high response, low detection limit, and fast response and recovery time. Notably, the response of Pt/ZnO-72 towards 200 ppm TEA is up to 535, which is much higher than those of 43 and 224 for pristine ZnO-0 and ZnO-72. A synergistic mechanism combining the intrinsic merits of ZnO, its unique mesoporous holey cubic structure, the oxygen vacancies, and the catalytic sensitization effect of Pt has been proposed for the significant enhancement in TEA sensing. Our work provides an effective facile approach to fabricate an advanced micro-nano architecture with manipulating its spatial structure, functional units, and active mesoporous surface for promising TEA gas sensors.

Automated summary

Designing sensing materials with unique spatial structures, functional units, and surface activity is crucial for high-performance gas sensor for triethylamine (TEA) detection. In this study, mesoporous ZnO holey cubes were fabricated through a simple spontaneous dissolution and subsequent thermal decomposition strategy. The sensing performance was improved by functionalizing the mesoporous ZnO holey cubes with catalytic Pt nanoparticles, resulting in superior performances including high response, low detection limit, and fast response and recovery time. The response of Pt/ZnO-72 towards 200 ppm TEA was significantly enhanced, which could be attributed to the synergistic mechanism combining the intrinsic merits of ZnO, its unique mesoporous holey cubic structure, the presence of oxygen vacancies, and the catalytic sensitization effect of Pt.