A novel cataluminescence gas sensor based on MgO thin film

Using MgO film as sensing material, a cataluminescence sensor was proposed by the determination of ethylene glycol ethers (2-ethoxyethanol and 2-methoxyethanol). This ethylene glycol ethers sensor showed high sensitivity and specificity. With detection limits of 1.0 ppm and 1.4 ppm, the linear ranges of cataluminescence intensity versus ethylene glycol ethers concentrations were 2.0–2000 ppm for 2-ethoxyethanol and 2.0–1500 ppm for 2-methoxyethanol, respectively. The response time was less than 5 s. Foreign substances passed through the surface of MgO film without response, such as ammonia, benzene, ethyl acetate, acetaldehyde, vinyl acetate, methanol, acetone, ethanol, acetic acid, formaldehyde, and isopropyl ether. The sensor could determine 2-ethoxyethanol and 2-methoxyethanol whether they existed alone or together in air samples.