An ethanol gas sensor using energy transfer cataluminescence on nanosized YVO4:Eu3+ surface

In the present work, a novel and highly sensitive gas sensor for ethanol was demonstrated based on the intensive cataluminescence emission on the surface of YVO4:Eu3+ luminescent nanocrystals. By a hydrothermal synthesis process with surfactant (PEG 4000), the rice-like sensing material (YVO4:Eu3+) was successfully obtained. Considering the cataluminescence spectra and the fluorescence spectra of YVO4:Eu3+ nanocrystals, an energy transfer mechanism from excited intermediates to the YVO4:Eu3+ nanocrystals was proposed. Under the optimized conditions, the present gas sensor exhibited a linear range of 0.2–31.5 μg mL−1, with a limit of detection of 0.03 μg mL−1 (S/N = 3). The proposed gas sensor showed good characteristics with fast response, high sensitivity and good stability.