A Highly Sensitive Formaldehyde Gas Sensor Based on Ag2O and PtO2 Co-Decorated LaFeO3 Nanofibers Prepared by Electrospinning

Abstract

Highlights: High-stability gas-sensing material for industrial potential. Sensor for detecting low-concentration formaldehyde with significant application potential. What are the main findings? Ag2O and PtO2 bi-metal oxide nanoparticles co-decorated on LaFeO3 nanofibers exhibit remarkable gas-sensing performance for formaldehyde detection. The sensor based on Ag2O and PtO2 co-decorated LaFeO3 shows ultra-low detection limits (10 ppb) and high response values. What is the implication of the main finding? The simple and controllable synthesis process is beneficial for industrial production. The ultra-low detection limit is crucial for environmental health monitoring. The widespread use of formaldehyde in both industrial and household products has raised significant health concerns, emphasizing the need for highly sensitive sensors to monitor formaldehyde concentrations in the environment in real time. In this study, we report the fabrication of a highly sensitive formaldehyde gas sensor based on Ag2O and PtO2 co-decorated LaFeO3 nanofibers, prepared by electrospinning, with an ultra-low detection limit of 10 ppb. Operating at an optimal temperature of 210 °C, the sensor exhibits high sensitivity, with a response value of 283 to 100 ppm formaldehyde—nearly double the response of the Ag-only decorated LaFeO3 sensor. Additionally, the sensor demonstrated good selectivity, repeatability, and long-term stability over 80 days. The enhanced sensitivity is attributed to the strong adsorption ability of Ag towards both oxygen and formaldehyde, Ag’s catalytic oxidation of formaldehyde, PtO2’s catalytic action on oxygen, and the spillover effect of PtO2 on oxygen. This sensor holds significant potential for environmental monitoring due to its ultrahigh sensitivity and ease of fabrication.