Gas-sensing properties and in situ diffuse-reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy study of diethyl ether adsorption and reactions on SnO2/rGO film

Diethyl ether is widely used in the fields of diesel engines, agriculture, food, chemical, biological, pharmaceutical, and medical industries. It is necessary to carry out real-time monitoring of this molecule due to its harmful effects on human health. In this study, a highly sensitive SnO2/rGO gas-sensing material has been prepared by a hydrothermal method. The surface adsorption and reaction processes between the SnO2/rGO gas-sensing film and diethyl ether have been studied by the in situ diffuse-reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy at different temperatures. The results show that the SnO2/rGO gas-sensing material has high sensitivity to diethyl ether, and the lowest detection limit can reach 1 ppm, and that ethyl(left( {{ m{C}}{{ m{H}}_3}{ m{CH}}_2^{; cdot} } ight)), oxethyl(left( {{ m{C}}{{ m{H}}_{ m{3}}}{ m{C}}{{ m{H}}_2}{{ m{O}}^cdot}} ight)), ethanol (CH3CH2OH), formaldehyde (HCHO), acetaldehyde (CH3CHO), ethylene (C2H4), H2O, and CO2surface species are formed during diethyl ether adsorption at different temperatures. A possible mechanism of the reaction process is discussed.