Fe-based metal-organic framework as a chemiresistive sensor for low-temperature monitoring of acetone gas

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical Chemical, 2023-08, Vol.388, p.133799, Article 133799
• Main Authors: Thuy Nguyen, Linh Ho, Navale, Sachin T., Yang, Dong Hoon, Nguyen, Hue Thi Thu, Phan, Thang Bach, Kim, Jin-Young, Mirzaei, Ali, Doan, Tan Le Hoang, Kim, Sang Sub, Kim, Hyoun Woo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetone; Fe-based Metal-Organic Framework; Gas sensors
• ISSN: 0925-4005; 1873-3077
• DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2023.133799

This work demonstrates the potential of a novel iron-based metal-organic framework (Fe-MOF or VNU-15) to effectively detect low-concentration volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particularly acetone (CH3COCH3). A facile solvothermal strategy was used to synthesize Fe-MOFs, comprising Fe(II)/Fe(III) and two distinct linkers—BDC (benzene-1,4-dicarboxylate) and NDC (naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid). As a first step, Fe-MOFs were characterized to determine their pure phase formation and identify their structural and morphological characteristics. Fe-MOFs processed via the solvothermal method demonstrated high crystallinity, high thermal stability, polyhedral crystal-shaped surface morphology, and a surface area of 735 m2g−1, making them suitable for gas-sensing applications. Laboratory-scale gas-sensing devices were fabricated by printing Fe-MOF powder onto patterned interdigitated electrodes, with performance measurements conducted on these devices in response to exposure to various target gases at temperatures between 25 and 200 °C and gas concentrations between 1 and 10 ppm. Gas-sensing tests confirmed that the VNU-15 sensor selectivity detects CH3COCH3 with a gas response of 1.68–10 ppm and a response time of 64 s, followed by a recovery time of 166 s at 50 °C. This study demonstrates the feasibility of using novel MOF-based sensing channels as low-temperature gas sensors, providing new insights into gas-sensing technology. •Facile low-temperature solvothermal synthesis approach of Fe-MOFs with ultra-high surface area of 735 m2g−1.•The use of Fe-MOFs as an active gas-sensing material has been demonstrated.•Fe-MOF has proven to be an excellent chemiresistive material for detecting low-level CH3COCH3 at 50 °C.•Fe-MOF detects 1 ppm CH3COCH3, being lower than the breath value for people with diabetes.