K(x)WO Is a Novel Ferroelectric Nanomaterial for Application as a Room Temperature Acetone Sensor

A newly synthesized nanomaterial known as K(x)W(7)O(22) (K(x)WO) exhibits a stable room-temperature ferroelectric property. This unique ferroelectric property has revealed that K(x)WO is a promising material for application in a breath sensor, which can be used for patients to monitor their daily health condition and diagnose disease at every early stage with low cost, convenience, and non-invasion. In this study, we successfully synthesized nano-structured K(x)WO through a low cost but high yield hydrothermal method. The sensing response of K(x)WO to acetone is examined based on a chemiresistive effect. For the first time, we systematically studied how material structures and the component, potassium (K), can affect K(x)WO-based sensing performance. The results indicate that the low temperature ferroelectric property of K(x)WO causes an excellent response to acetone, which is the biomarker for diabetes. The lowest detection limit can be down to 0.1 ppm and the K(x)WO-based sensor can operate at room temperature. In addition, the K(x) component K(x)WO and its crystal structure also play an important role in improving its sensing performance. Our results provide advanced research in (1) exploring the study of K(x)WO material properties by tailoring the concentration of the potassium in K(x)WO and introducing the surfactant Pluronic L-121 in the growing process, and (2) optimizing K(x)WO sensing performance by controlling its material properties.