Acetone Vapors Detection Using a MWCNTs/SnO₂ Nanocomposite Material

As a highly desired volatile organic compound (VOC), acetone is widely used in laboratories and industry as a reagent and has been considered an important indicator of glucose in the noninvasive analysis of human breath. Thus, we have fabricated a chemoresistive acetone sensor based on multiwalled carbon nanotubes and tin oxide composite material (MWCNTs/SnO2) by the cost-effective sol–gel process. To obtain structural, compositional, and morphological properties of the MWCNTs/SnO2 material, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) elementary analysis, EDX mapping, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were successfully applied. The analysis of the gas sensing results showed a high response (65) of the sensor at an operating temperature of 250 °C in the presence of an acetone concentration of 400 ppm. It is also characterized by an ultralow detection limit (1 ppm), excellent response repeatability, and high selectivity. The MWCNTs/SnO2 material was also able to selectively detect low concentrations of ethanol using temperature modulation.