Crosslinked WO3 nanonet for rapid detection of sulfur mustard gas simulant: Mechanism insights and sensing application

Effective detection of mustard gas is significant for human health and public security on account of its high toxicity and volatility. However, the sluggish response time of current sensors hinders their rapid identification of gases in actual hazardous environments. Herein, crosslinked WO3 nanonet was successfully synthesized on ceramic tubes by a facile in situ solvothermal method. The unique structure with abundant pores could not only facilitate charge transfer but also provide large amounts adsorption sites for gas sensing. The resultant WO3-4:1 sensor exhibited ultra-fast response time (1 s) and high response (58) toward 50 ppm 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (2-CEES). Moreover, a new model of sensing mechanism for the 2-CEES sensing process was proposed through a series of characterization and testing technologies. This work offers guidance for developing other high-performance mustard gas sensors in practical applications.