The mixed potential type gas sensor based on stabilized zirconia and molybdate MMoO4 (M: Ni, Co and Zn) sensing electrode aiming at detecting triethylamine

The mixed potential type gas sensors utilizing yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) solid electrolyte and molybdates MMoO4 (M: Ni, Co and Zn) sensing electrodes (SEs) were fabricated aiming at detecting triethylamine (TEA) at 600 °C. Results indicated that the device attached with NiMoO4-SE exhibited the highest response value of −71 mV to 50 ppm TEA and low detection limit of 100 ppb at 600 °C. Moreover, the response time of the developed sensor to 50 ppm TEA was 3 s, which signified the fast response rate. The response value of fabricated sensor displayed the piecewise linear relationship to logarithm of TEA concentrations and the sensitivities were −4 mV/decade (0.1-1 ppm) and −37 mV/decade (1-100 ppm), respectively. More importantly, the present sensor also exhibited good repeatability, selectivity, slight effect of humidity and stability of 10 days, indicating a great candidate for use in detection of TEA. Furthermore, the device based on mixed potential mechanism was proposed and further verified using polarization curve.