Enhanced triethylamine sensing performance of Fe-doped Co-MOF

Abstract

Triethylamine (TEA) finds extensive and critical applications across diverse domains including industrial manufacturing, pharmaceutical research and development, and agricultural cultivation. However, owing to its hazardous attributes such as toxicity and flammability, the detection of TEA has emerged as a pivotal step in safeguarding personal safety, mitigating environmental pollution, and elevating food safety standards. In the present study, Fe-doped cobalt-based metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived nanomaterials were successfully synthesized via a facile and efficient hydrothermal approach. Gas-sensing measurements reveal that the 5 at% Fe-doped Co₃O₄ exhibits optimal performance, featuring an optimal operating temperature of 220°C and a response value sixfold that of the pure Co₃O₄ sensor (21). Notably, the 5 at% Fe-doped Co₃O₄ demonstrates rapid response and recovery time (32 s/34 s). Utilizing characterization techniques such as XPS and Fe-doped infrared spectroscopy for intermediate analysis, this work investigates the mechanism by which doping-induced charge transfer effects modulate the gas-sensing properties of the materials. Fe doping significantly enhances the gas-sensing activity, selectivity, and stability of cobalt-based MOF-derived materials by tailoring their local electronic structures. This discovery provides valuable theoretical underpinnings and experimental insights for the design of high-performance TEA gas sensors.