Baining Liu

A sensitive diethyl ether gas sensor based on cataluminescence on nano-Pd/ZnNi₃Al₂O₇ at a temperature lower than 150 °C was reported. The composition of the sensitive material was determined by energy-dispersive spectrometry, and a particle size of less than 50 nm was shown by transmission electron microscopy. When the atomic percentage of Pd in the sensing material is 0.8–1.3%, it is beneficial to the low-temperature and high-selective cataluminescence of diethyl ether. The signal response and recovery of diethyl ether on the sensitive material can be completed quickly in 0.5 s, and the relative standard deviation of the signal within 500 h of continuous operation is not more than 2.5%. There is good linear relationship between the luminescence intensity and the concentration of diethyl ether in the range of 0.08–75 mg/m³. The detection limit (3σ) is 0.04 mg/m³. The working conditions optimized by the response surface methodology were an analytical wavelength of 548.86 nm, a reaction temperature of 109.18 °C, and a carrier gas velocity of 125.88 mL/min. The sensitivity of the method can be increased by 4.5% under the optimized working conditions. The optimization method is universal for many multi-parameter processes.