Enhanced Acetone-Sensing Properties of Pt-Decorated In2O3 Hollow Microspheres Derived from Pt-Embedded Template

Langmuir. 2023 Jul 25;39(29):10178-10188. doi: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c01096. Epub 2023 Jul 12.

Abstract

Pt-decorated In2O3 hollow microspheres were prepared using a template and reflux method. The size of the prepared carbon templates was adjusted from 200 nm to 1.3 μm by introducing chloroplatinic acid during the hydrothermal process. At the same time, Pt nanoparticles inside the carbon layer were protected from oxidation and agglomeration. Also, the folds created on the surface of the hollow sphere during shrinkage led to a substantial increase in specific surface area. The response of the In2O3-based sensor toward acetone was significantly enhanced by the addition of Pt decoration. This improvement can be attributed to the increased availability of active sites for the target gas and the consequential alteration of the energy band structure. In addition, high response sensitivity, rapid dynamic processes, long-term reliability, and selectivity have all been achieved. The detectable limit is less than 1 ppm, which might satisfy the 1.8 ppm threshold value in the exhaled breath of patients with diabetes. Consequently, the proposed sensor has great sensitivity and can detect low-concentration of acetone, making it an ideal choice for applications such as monitoring daily dietary intake, managing diabetes, and inspecting industrial production processes.