Rapid sensitive sensing platform based on yolk-shell hybrid hollow sphere for detection of ethanol

The sensing layer composited from the inorganic particles, organic materials, polymers could be regarded as an important and functional component used in electronic devices, such as chemical sensor. Furthermore, it is very important for these materials to own hierarchical and porous structures leading to a large effective specific surface area. Among these, hybrid materials with yolk double-shelled architecture can further realize the required surface chemical reactions. However, it is rarely reported in gas sensors. Herein, a novel SnO2-TiO2 hollow nanostructure consisting of double shells was successfully designed and synthesized. Due to the special multi-shelled structure and abundant hetero-interface, the sensing layer based on SnO2-TiO2 realizes a rapid response rate within 1.7 s to ethanol gas and alluring reproducibility (15 days), which are superior over those for compact structure with similar sensors. The results indicated that the SnO2-TiO2 yolk double-shelled microsphere have the huge potential for designing high performance practical ethanol devices in environmental monitoring and drunk driving. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.