Low Temperature Triethylamine Sensor: Enhanced Performance through WS2/GO Wrinkled Nanosheets

Triethylamine (TEA) is widely used as a raw material, solvent, or catalyst in industries such as chemical, petroleum, and pharmaceutical. However, it has strong irritant and corrosive effects on the human body. Prolonged or high-concentration exposure can cause damage to the respiratory system, skin, and eyes and may even lead to more serious health problems such as pulmonary edema. Nevertheless, the detection of low TEA concentrations at reduced temperatures poses a significant hurdle. Within the scope of this study, two-dimensional tungsten sulfide (WS2) combined with graphene was synthesized deploying an ultrasound-assisted method. It is worth noting that the optimal operating temperature for the WS2/GO gas sensor is 100 °C, which is about 100 °C lower than that of the WS2 sensor. The detectable concentration of TEA gas is significantly reduced to a ppb level, and it can distinguish TEA gas as low as 500 ppb. The impressive selectivity and stable repeatability highlight the powerful gas-sensing capability of WS2/GO gas sensors for TEA gases, thanks to the excellent electrochemical throughput of WS2/GO and the synergistic effect of WS2 and GO fusion. To supplement these findings, a detailed exploration was conducted on the gas-sensing mechanism of TEA sensors. This investigation makes robust strides in the evolution of TEA detection technology, a key pillar in environmental surveillance and safeguarding human welfare.