High Performance Room-Temperature Acetone Sensors Enabled by Fermi-Level Engineering in Au-Decorated n-Type SnS2 Layers


Huang R. Cao Z. Chueh Y.-C. Bau J.-Y. Fuh H.-R. Abid M. Chang C.-R. Wu H.-C.
2026John Wiley and Sons Inc

Advanced Materials Technologies
2026

Non-invasive monitoring of diabetes through exhaled acetone detection remains a challenging goal, as energy-demanding metal oxide sensors operate at elevated temperatures (>150°C). Here, we report on a room-temperature acetone sensor that harnesses interfacial Fermi-level modulation in gold nanoparticle (Au NP)-decorated n-type SnS2 layers. In contrast with pristine SnS2, which exhibits negative sensitivity due to indirect electron generation from acetone adsorption–induced band (ED), Au NP decoration effectively repositions the Fermi level below the ED. This realignment facilitates direct charge transfer between acetone molecules and the Au NP–SnS2 interface, yielding a pronounced positive sensing response. The device exhibits excellent sensitivities of 910% at 7 ppm and 344% at 0.5 ppm under zero gate voltage, with additional tunability enabled through electrostatic gating. This study demonstrates a new material-engineering strategy for achieving low-power, room-temperature molecular diagnostics, advancing the integration of breath-based sensors into future medical and wearable device technologies.

acetone sensor , gold nanoparticle decoration , layered materials , SnS2

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School of Physics, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, China
Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science, Yuan Ze University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
EduAI dynamics, Astana, Kazakhstan
Department of Physics, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
Quantum Information Center, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan, Taiwan

School of Physics
Department of Chemical Engineering & Materials Science
EduAI dynamics
Department of Physics
Quantum Information Center

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