Highly sensitive gas sensor based on stabilized zirconia and CdMoO4 sensing electrode for detection of acetone

•Highly sensitive mixed potential type gas sensor based on YSZ and CdMoO4-SE was first developed for detection of acetone.•The device utilizing CdMoO4-SE exhibited the highest response of −133.5 mV to 100 ppm acetone at 625 °C.•The sensitivity of the fabricated sensor to acetone in the concentration range of 5-300 ppm was −84 mV/decade.•The sensor also showed good repeatability, selectivity, moisture resistance and stability.

A highly sensitive mixed potential type gas sensor based on stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and CdMoO4 sensing electrode (SE) was developed and used for detection of acetone at 625 °C. By comparing the sensing performance for different devices fabricated, the sensor utilizing CdMoO4-SE exhibited the highest response value (−133.5 mV) to 100 ppm acetone at 625 °C, and even could achieve low detection limit of 500 ppb at 625 °C. The sensor attached with CdMoO4-SE displayed high sensitivity of −84 mV/decade to acetone in the range of 5-300 ppm at 625 °C. The present device also showed good repeatability, selectivity to certain deleterious gases, moisture resistance and acceptable drifts in 10 days measured period at 625 °C, demonstrating great potential for practical application in acetone sensing detection. Additionally, the sensor involving mixed potential mechanism was proposed and further clarified by polarization curve.