Fabrication of selective and highly sensitive triethylamine gas sensor using In2O3–SnO2 hollow nanospheres in room temperature activated by UV irradiation

Introducing a groundbreaking solution, a room-temperature (RT, 25 °C) gas sensor addresses complexities in conventional sensors, promising enhanced performance. Synthesized through hydrothermal and thermal calcination processes, SnO2 hollow nanospheres (HNs) are integrated with In2O3 components to bolster sensing capabilities. The sensor detects triethylamine (TEA) gas upon UV light irradiation, owing to its unique surface properties and SnO2–SnO2 and SnO2–In2O3 homo- and heterojunctions. This results in unparalleled sensitivity to TEA gas (Ra/Rg = 34–100 ppm) and an exceptional limit of detection (3.98 ppt), attributed to photo-ionized O2− ions' heightened reactivity. The study proposes superior sensors backed by comprehensive analyses, demonstrating their performance improvements and underlying mechanisms. The optimized sensor design, based on In2O3-appended SnO2 HNs, presents exceptional selectivity, pattern recognition for low TEA gas concentrations, humidity resistance, and reliability under UV irradiation.