Stacking growth of ionically conductive MOF on biofabrics enables reliable NH3 sensor for hepatic encephalopathy diagnosis
Source abstract
Abstract
Aiming at the poor selectivity of electrically conductive metal-organic framework (EC-MOF) chemoresistive materials, this study develops a breakthrough room temperature ammonia (NH 3 ) sensor by stacking ionically conductive MOF (IC-MOF) on an environmentally friendly biofabric. The synergism between ionic conductivity, tailored metal-nitrogen interaction, and fabric porosity enables the sensor with high response ( R 0 / R g = 14.7 towards 1 ppm NH 3 ), low detection limit (36 ppb), and remarkable selectivity (coefficient >5.12 against common organic interferents). Notably, the optimized sensor yields a sixfold enhancement in response as compared with traditional EC-MOF powders. A linear regression model validated by fivefold cross-validation achieves 98.4% accuracy in NH 3 concentration prediction, while the kNN classifier shows 96% accuracy in gas identification (tested on 192 samples). Preliminary clinical tests show that the sensor can clearly differentiate the exhaled NH 3 signals of four patients with HE from those of healthy individuals, demonstrating the potential for non-invasive diagnostics.
Source: openalex_inverted_index · Quality: baseline
Research context
OpenAlex topics: Gas Sensing Nanomaterials and Sensors · Advanced Chemical Sensor Technologies · Metal-Organic Frameworks: Synthesis and Applications
SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.
References (65)
Show source-provided references
1. Sempionatto, J. R. et al. Wearable ring-based sensing platform for detecting chemical threats. ACS Sens. 2, 1531–1538 (2017).10.1021/acssensors.7b00603 ↗
2. Wenzheng, H. et al. A smart mask for exhaled breath condensate harvesting and analysis. Science 385, 954–961 (2024).10.1126/science.adn6471 ↗
3. Shahmoradi, A., Hosseini, A., Akbarinejad, A. & Alizadeh, N. Noninvasive detection of ammonia in the breath of hemodialysis patients using a highly sensitive ammonia sensor based on a polypyrrole/sulfonated graphene nanocomposite. Anal. Chem. 93, 6706–6714 (2021).10.1021/acs.analchem.1c00171 ↗
4. Grabowska-Polanowska, B. et al. Detection of potential chronic kidney disease markers in breath using gas chromatography with mass-spectral detection coupled with thermal desorption method. J. Chromatogr. A 1301, 179–189 (2013).10.1016/j.chroma.2013.05.012 ↗
5. Shrivastav, A. M., Sharma, G., Rathore, A. S. & Jha, R. Hypersensitive and selective interferometric nose for ultratrace ammonia detection with fast response utilizing PANI@SnO2 nanocomposite. ACS Photonics 5, 4402–4412 (2018).10.1021/acsphotonics.8b00828 ↗
6. Shin, J. et al. A wireless wearable sensor system based on a silver nanowire-decorated silicon nanomembrane for precise and continuous hazardous gas monitoring. Adv. Funct. Mater. 35, 2419110 (2024).10.1002/adfm.202419110 ↗
7. Quan, W. et al. Highly sensitive ammonia gas sensors at room temperature based on the catalytic mechanism of N, C coordinated Ni single-atom active center. Nanomicro Lett. 16, 277 (2024).
8. Miao, L. et al. Novel selectivity: Target of gas sensing defined by behavior. Adv. Mater. 37, e2413023 (2025).10.1002/adma.202413023 ↗
9. Davies, S., Spanel, P. & Smith, D. Quantitative analysis of ammonia on the breath of patients in end-stage renal failure. Kidney Int. 52, 223–228 (1997).10.1038/ki.1997.324 ↗
10. Song, Z. et al. Polycrystalline hollow MOF derived Co3O4 semiconductor to achieve room-temperature ammonia detection in human exhaled breath. Sens. Actuators B: Chem 411, 135701 (2024).10.1016/j.snb.2024.135701 ↗
11. Le Maout, P. et al. Polyaniline nanocomposites based sensor array for breath ammonia analysis. Portable e-nose approach to non-invasive diagnosis of chronic kidney disease. Sens. Actuators B: Chem. 274, 616–626 (2018).10.1016/j.snb.2018.07.178 ↗
12. Zhang, M. et al. Porous oxide-functionalized seaweed fabric as a flexible breath sensor for noninvasive nephropathy diagnosis. ACS Sens. 7, 2634–2644 (2022).10.1021/acssensors.2c01014 ↗
13. Lin, M. et al. A high-performance, sensitive, wearable multifunctional sensor based on rubber/CNT for human motion and skin temperature detection. Adv. Mater. 34, 2107309 (2021).10.1002/adma.202107309 ↗
14. Luo, S. L. & Swager, T. M. Wireless detection of trace ammonia: A chronic kidney disease biomarker. ACS Nano 18, 364–372 (2024).10.1021/acsnano.3c07325 ↗
15. Zhang, X. et al. A historical perspective on porphyrin-based metal-organic frameworks and their applications. Coord. Chem. Rev. 429, 213615 (2021).10.1016/j.ccr.2020.213615 ↗
16. Sun, L., Campbell, M. G. & Dinca, M. Electrically conductive porous metal-organic frameworks. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 55, 3566–3579 (2016).10.1002/anie.201506219 ↗
17. Roh, H. et al. Robust chemiresistive behavior in conductive polymer/MOF composites. Adv. Mater. 36, e2312382 (2024).10.1002/adma.202312382 ↗
18. Li, C., Sun, X., Yao, Y. & Hong, G. Recent advances of electrically conductive metal-organic frameworks in electrochemical applications. Mater. Today Nano 13, 100105 (2021).10.1016/j.mtnano.2020.100105 ↗
19. Zhang, G. et al. Recent advances in the development of electronically and ionically conductive metal-organic frameworks. Coord. Chem. Rev. 439, 213915 (2021).10.1016/j.ccr.2021.213915 ↗
20. Ma, M. et al. Metalloporphyrin frameworks to encapsulate copper oxides for boosting ethylene production in neutral electrolyte. Adv. Funct. Mater 34, 2315667 (2024).10.1002/adfm.202315667 ↗
21. Jing, J., Yang, J., Li, W., Wu, Z. & Zhu, Y. Construction of interfacial electric field via dual-porphyrin heterostructure boosting photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. Adv. Mater. 34, e2106807 (2022).10.1002/adma.202106807 ↗
22. Yao, M. S. et al. Layer-by-layer assembled conductive metal-organic framework nanofilms for room-temperature chemiresistive sensing. Angew. Chem. Int Ed. Engl. 56, 16510–16514 (2017).10.1002/anie.201709558 ↗
23. Jing, J., Yang, J., Zhang, Z. & Zhu, Y. Supramolecular zinc porphyrin photocatalyst with strong reduction ability and robust built-in electric field for highly efficient hydrogen production. Adv. Energy Mater. 11, 2101392 (2021).10.1002/aenm.202101392 ↗
24. Sang, Z. et al. One-dimensional pi-d conjugated conductive metal-organic framework with dual redox-active sites for high-capacity and durable cathodes for aqueous zinc batteries. ACS Nano 17, 3077–3087 (2023).10.1021/acsnano.2c11974 ↗
25. Liu, C. K. et al. Introducing postmetalation metal-organic framework to control perovskite crystal growth for efficient perovskite solar cells. ACS Appl Mater. Interfaces 13, 60125–60134 (2021).10.1021/acsami.1c22144 ↗
26. Zhao, Y., Wang, J. & Pei, R. Micron-sized ultrathin metal-organic framework sheet. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 142, 10331–10336 (2020).10.1021/jacs.0c04442 ↗
27. La, D. D., Thi, H. P. N., Kim, Y. S., Rananaware, A. & Bhosale, S. V. Facile fabrication of Cu(II)-porphyrin MOF thin films from tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)porphyrin and Cu(OH)2 nanoneedle array. Appl. Surf. Sci 424, 145–150 (2017).10.1016/j.apsusc.2017.01.110 ↗
28. Lin, Y. et al. Layer-by-layer growth of preferred-oriented MOF thin film on nanowire array for high-performance chemiresistive sensing. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 60, 25758–25761 (2021).10.1002/anie.202111519 ↗
29. Liu, Y. et al. Electrochemical synthesis of large area two-dimensional metal-organic framework films on copper anodes. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 60, 2887–2891 (2021).10.1002/anie.202012971 ↗
30. Pang, L. et al. Bimetallic synergy boost TCPP(Ni)-Co MOF as the high-performance electrochemical sensor for enhanced detection of trace theophylline. Microchem. J. 183, 107981 (2022).10.1016/j.microc.2022.107981 ↗
31. Huang, C. et al. Hierarchical conductive metal-organic framework films enabling efficient interfacial mass transfer. Nat. Commun. 14, 3850 (2023).10.1038/s41467-023-39630-y ↗
32. Li, L. et al. Highly selective and sensitive detection of volatile sulfur compounds by ionically conductive metal-organic frameworks. Adv. Mater. 33, e2104120 (2021).10.1002/adma.202104120 ↗
33. Yao, M. S. et al. Van der Waals heterostructured MOF-on-MOF thin films: Cascading functionality to realize advanced chemiresistive sensing. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 58, 14915–14919 (2019).10.1002/anie.201907772 ↗
34. Chang, L.-M., Ma, Z.-Z., Huang, J. & Gu, Z.-G. Liquid-phase epitaxial growth of multiple MOF thin films with high lattice mismatch. Inorg. Chem. Front. 10, 1136–1142 (2023).10.1039/D2QI02464K ↗
35. Zheng, R. et al. The growth mechanism of a conductive mof thin film in spray-based layer-by-layer liquid phase epitaxy. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 61, e202212797 (2022).10.1002/anie.202212797 ↗
36. Rubio-Gimenez, V. et al. Origin of the chemiresistive response of ultrathin films of conductive metal-organic frameworks. Angew. Chem. Int Ed. Engl. 57, 15086–15090 (2018).10.1002/anie.201808242 ↗
37. Koo, W. T., Kim, S. J., Jang, J. S., Kim, D. H. & Kim, I. D. Catalytic metal nanoparticles embedded in conductive metal-organic frameworks for chemiresistors: Highly active and conductive porous materials. Adv. Sci. (Weinh.) 6, 1900250 (2019).
38. Aykanat, A. et al. Conductive stimuli-responsive coordination network linked with bismuth for chemiresistive gas sensing. ACS Appl Mater. Interfaces 13, 60306–60318 (2021).10.1021/acsami.1c14453 ↗
39. Lu, Y. et al. Ultrasensitive detection of electrolyte leakage from lithium-ion batteries by ionically conductive metal-organic frameworks. Matter 3, 904–919 (2020).10.1016/j.matt.2020.05.021 ↗
40. Li, J. et al. Ultrahigh-loading zinc single-atom catalyst for highly efficient oxygen reduction in both acidic and alkaline media. Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 58, 7035–7039 (2019).10.1002/anie.201902109 ↗
41. Deng, W.-H. et al. Crystalline microporous small molecule semiconductors based on porphyrin for high-performance chemiresistive gas sensing. J. Mater. Chem. A 10, 12977–12983 (2022).10.1039/D1TA10945F ↗
42. Liu, K., Tian, W., Hui, B., Zhang, K. & Xia, Y. Alginate fiber anchored conductive coordination frameworks for ultrastable light-gas dual sensors with synergistic effect. Mater. Sci. Eng. R: Rep. 160, 100827 (2024).10.1016/j.mser.2024.100827 ↗
43. Ogbeide, O. et al. Inkjet-printed rGO/binary metal oxide sensor for predictive gas sensing in a mixed environment. Adv. Funct. Mater. 32, 2113348 (2022).10.1002/adfm.202113348 ↗
44. Liu, Y. et al. All-natural phyllosilicate-polysaccharide triboelectric sensor for machine learning-assisted human motion prediction. npj Flex. Electron. 7, 21 (2023).10.1038/s41528-023-00254-3 ↗
45. Kamalabadi, M., Ghoorchian, A., Derakhshandeh, K., Gholyaf, M. & Ravan, M. Design and fabrication of a gas sensor based on a polypyrrole/silver nanoparticle film for the detection of ammonia in exhaled breath of COVID-19 patients suffering from acute kidney injury. Anal. Chem. 94, 16290–16298 (2022).10.1021/acs.analchem.2c02760 ↗
46. Liu, L., Fei, T., Guan, X., Zhao, H. & Zhang, T. Humidity-activated ammonia sensor with excellent selectivity for exhaled breath analysis. Sens. Actuators B: Chem. 334, 129625 (2021).10.1016/j.snb.2021.129625 ↗
47. Zhou, J. et al. An ultra-sensitive NH3 gas sensor enabled by an ion-in-conjugated polycroconaine/Ti3C2Tx core-shell composite. Nanoscale Horiz. 8, 794–802 (2023).10.1039/D2NH00591C ↗
48. Chen, X. et al. Ultrafast in situ synthesis of large-area conductive metal-organic frameworks on substrates for flexible chemiresistive sensing. ACS Appl Mater. Interfaces 12, 57235–57244 (2020).10.1021/acsami.0c18422 ↗
49. Zheng, J. et al. Integration and synergy of organic single crystals and metal–organic frameworks in core–shell heterostructures enables outstanding gas selectivity for detection. Adv. Funct. Mater. 30, 2005727 (2020).10.1002/adfm.202005727 ↗
50. Das, B., Behera, S., Satpati, B. & Ghosh, R. Layered SnS2/porous nickel foil based Schottky junction: An excellent ammonia sensor at room temperature. J. Hazard Mater. 428, 128252 (2022).10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.128252 ↗
51. Wang, D. et al. Multifunctional latex/polytetrafluoroethylene-based triboelectric nanogenerator for self-powered organ-like mxene/metal-organic framework-derived CuO nanohybrid ammonia sensor. ACS Nano 15, 2911–2919 (2021).10.1021/acsnano.0c09015 ↗
52. Yang, R. et al. PANI/Ti3C2Tx composite nanofiber-based flexible conductometric sensor for the detection of NH3 at room temperature. Sens. Actuators B: Chem. 392, 134128 (2023).10.1016/j.snb.2023.134128 ↗
53. Li, D. et al. GaN/rGO nanocomposite gas sensor for enhanced NH3 sensing performances at room temperature. Sens. Actuators B: Chem. 403, 135209 (2024).10.1016/j.snb.2023.135209 ↗
54. Qin, Z. et al. Biomimetic gas sensor derived from disposable bamboo chopsticks for highly sensitive and selective detection of NH3. Chem. Eng. J. 462, 142203 (2023).10.1016/j.cej.2023.142203 ↗
55. Zhou, T. et al. Light-driven, ultra-sensitive and multifunctional ammonia wireless sensing system by plasmonic-functionalized Nb2CTx MXenes towards smart agriculture. Nano Energy 108, 108216 (2023).10.1016/j.nanoen.2023.108216 ↗
56. Kan, Z. et al. A dual-mode foam sensor employing Ti3C2Tx /In2O3 composites for NH3 detection with memory function and body movement monitoring for kidney disease diagnosis. J. Mater. Chem. A 11, 24299–24310 (2023).10.1039/D3TA05670H ↗
57. He, J. et al. Self-healing, laminated, and low resistance NH3 sensor based on 6,6’,6”-(nitrilotris(benzene-4,1-diyl))tris(5-phenylpyrazine-2,3-dicarbonitrile) sensing material operating at room temperature. ACS Sens 9, 171–181 (2024).10.1021/acssensors.3c01804 ↗
58. Li, P. et al. Room-temperature NH3 sensors based on polyaniline-assembled graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets. ACS Appl. Nano Mater. 6, 5145–5154 (2023).10.1021/acsanm.2c04940 ↗
59. Yin, Y. et al. Si, O-codoped carbonized polymer dots with high chemiresistive gas sensing performance at room temperature. ACS Sens 9, 3282–3289 (2024).10.1021/acssensors.4c00617 ↗
60. Lawaniya, S. D., Kumar, S., Yu, Y. & Awasthi, K. Ammonia sensing properties of PPy nanostructures (urchins/flowers) towards low-cost and flexible gas sensors at room temperature. Sens. Actuators B: Chem. 382, 133566 (2023).10.1016/j.snb.2023.133566 ↗
61. Huang, J. et al. Respiration-driven ammonia sensing mask for multifunctional self-powered monitoring application. Chem. Eng. J. 507, 160598 (2025).10.1016/j.cej.2025.160598 ↗
62. Narasimhan, L. R., William, G. & Patel, C. K. N. Correlation of breath ammonia with blood urea nitrogen and creatinine during hemodialysis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 98, 4617–4621 (2001).10.1073/pnas.071057598 ↗
63. Liu, X. et al. A prototype of graphene e-nose for exhaled breath detection and label-free diagnosis of helicobacter pylori infection. Adv. Sci. 11, e2401695 (2024).10.1002/advs.202401695 ↗
64. Bayrakli, I., Turkmen, A. & Cem Kockar, M. Feasibility study of using breath ammonia analysis based on off-axis cavity-enhanced absorption spectroscopy with external cavity diode laser for noninvasive real-time diagnosis of helicobacter pylori. Appl. Spectrosc. 70, 1269–1277 (2016).10.1177/0003702816654052 ↗
65. Mitrayana, M., Maarif, M. A., Wasono, M. A. J., Ikhsan, M. R. & Satriawan, M. Application of the CO2 laser photoacoustic spectroscopy in detecting ammonia gas NH3 in liver disease patient’s breath. Key Eng. Mater. 840, 399–405 (2020).10.4028/www.scientific.net/KEM.840.399 ↗