Hollow CuO/Cu2O octahedrons for selective and stable detection of acetone gas

Acetone (C₃H₆O) is key member of the volatile organic compound family, which can cause health as well as environmental issues. The identification and sensing of acetone gas are important in many applications such as air quality control and biomarker-based diagnosis. Here, we synthesized hollow CuO/Cu₂O octahedrons heterostructure composite through coprecipitation and subsequent heat treatment. The sensor manifested a response of 3.52 to 50 ppm acetone gas at 350 °C. Besides, it showed excellent stability in a 150-day test and excellent repeatability, with a response of 4.15. Also, exhaled gas sensing was carried out using standard method to estimate the acetone concentration in breath. The high sensing capability of the sensor was ascribed to the formation of p-p heterojunctions, the hollow morphology of octahedrons, and the presence of structural defects. The hollow CuO/Cu₂O octahedron sensor with good performance may be employed for the detection and monitoring of acetone gas in real situations.