Room temperature piezotronic sensor based on sequentially integrated MXene electrodes and 2D tellurene for ultrasensitive acetone detection

Abstract

Acetone is commonly found in various products including nail polish, nail polish removers, face washes, household cleaners, paint thinners, and personal care items. The inhalation of acetone vapor from these products can lead to health issues, highlighting the need for a highly selective acetone sensor. Herein, we present a flexible sensor based on 2D tellurene (Te) on MXene contacts for selective detection of acetone. The sensor exhibited an impressive response of approximately 8.9% at low acetone concentrations (5–25 ppm) and room temperature. By leveraging the piezoelectric properties of Te, the sensor response was further enhanced by up to 121% under applied strains ranging from 5 to 25%. A comparative analysis of the performance of MXene, tellurene, and the MXene/Te composite under both strained and unstrained conditions was performed. Principal component analysis (PCA) and binary logistic regression techniques enabled the successful classification of acetone among six volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The acetone detection capabilities of the sensor were further validated using commercially available products, including nail polish removers, paint thinners, plastic cement, and hair color sprays. Finally, a detailed comparison between the MXene/Te sensor and the gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique is discussed in terms of cost, ease of use, portability, sample preparation time, and response time.