Superior acetone sensor based on hetero-interface of SnSe 2 /SnO 2 quasi core shell nanoparticles for previewing diabetes

To improve gas sensing performance of SnO sensor, a heterostructure constructed by SnO and SnSe is designed and synthesized via hydrothermal method and post thermal oxidation treatment. The obtained SnSe /SnO composite nanoparticles demonstrate a special core-shell structure with SnO nanograins distributed in the shell and mixed SnSe and SnO nanograins in the core. Owning to the promoted charge transfer effect invited by SnSe , the sensor based on SnSe /SnO composite nanoparticles exhibit expressively enhanced acetone sensing performance compared to the pristine SnO sensor. At the working temperature of 300 °C, the SnSe /SnO composite sensor with optimized composition exhibits superior sensing property towards acetone, including high response (10.77-100 ppm), low theoretical limit of detection (0.354 ppm), high selectivity and good reproducibility. Moreover, the sensor shows a satisfactory sensing performance in trace acetone gas detection under high humidity condition (relative humidity: 70-90%), making it a promising candidate to constructing exhaled breath sensors for acetone detection.