Gas sniffer (YSZ-based electrochemical gas phase sensor) toward acetone detection

•A series of K2NiF4-type oxides Sm2-xSrxNiO4 (x=0.4, 0.6 and 0.8) were first developed to fabricate acetone sniffer.•The device utilizing Sm1.4Sr0.6NiO4-SE performed the largest response of −20 mV to 5 ppm acetone.•The lowest detection limit of the sensor based on Sm1.4Sr0.6NiO4-SE to acetone was 300 ppb.•The sensor displayed prominent reliability, humidity resistance and stability.•The sensor performed a manifest and stable signal during all of tests to the exhaled breathes of the diabetics. Acetone sniffer, because of its ability of continuous non-invasive monitoring, is recognized as a potential method for the diagnosis of diabetes. In this study, mixed potential electrochemical sensors based on YSZ and K2NiF4 -type oxides Sm2-xSrxNiO4 (x = 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8) sensing electrode were fabricated as bio-sniffer for diagnosis of diabetics by detecting acetone concentration in exhaled breath. The results showed that when Sm1.4Sr0.6NiO4 was used as sensing material, the fabricated sensor exhibited the best performance in comparison with other sensors, the present device also exhibited prominent reliability, excellent humidity resistance and good stability over 30 days. What’s more, the low detection limit of sensor to acetone was 300 ppb, indicating that the sensor had ability for acetone detection in exhaled breath. The exhaled breathes of the diabetics with ketosis were used for detection and results showed that the sensor had a manifest and stable signal. Besides, the response and recovery time were also acceptable to real-time detection. In addition, the relationship of the blood ketone level and the acetone concentration in exhaled breath was given in the paper. Above all, the fabricated sensor has enormous potentiality for the diabetes monitoring through breath analysis.