Citation: Yu Deng, Mengli Lei, Xiaowei Cheng, Wei Luo, Yuanyuan Zhang, Yu Wang, Yidong Zou. Exceptional domain-confined growth of Co₃O₄ nanocrystals-decorated reduced graphene oxide for formaldehyde sensing at low temperatures[J]. Chinese Chemical Letters, ;2026, 37(11): 111730. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111730 shu

Exceptional domain-confined growth of Co₃O₄ nanocrystals-decorated reduced graphene oxide for formaldehyde sensing at low temperatures

Yu Deng ^{a, b} ,
Mengli Lei ^b ,
Xiaowei Cheng ^b ,
Wei Luo ^{a, *,} ,
Yuanyuan Zhang ^c ,
Yu Wang ^{c, *,} ,
Yidong Zou ^{d, *,}

a.
State Key Laboratory of Advanced Fiber Materials, College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China
b.
Department of Chemistry, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
c.
Department of Cardiology, Shidong Hospital, Shanghai 200438, China
d.
Department of Polymeric Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 201804, China

wluo@dhu.edu.cn

wangyushidonghos@163.com

ydzou@tongji.edu.cn

Received Date: 5 July 2025
Revised Date: 5 August 2025
Accepted Date: 15 August 2025
Available Online: 16 August 2025

Figures(6)

Endless semiconductor sensitive materials have emerged and exhibited unprecedented application prospects in chemiresistive gas sensors, including clinical diagnosis, environmental monitoring, industrial production, aerospace and other fields. To satisfy the demands of integrated and miniaturized devices, efficient gas sensors with low power consumption have become a new research hotspot and highly potential direction. Herein, a facile and general in-situ domain-confined growth strategy was proposed to elaborately tailoring the versatile Co₃O₄ nanocrystals (NCs)-decorated reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (Co₃O₄-rGO), and the microstructure (e.g., size, dispersibility) of anchored Co₃O₄ NCs could be precisely controlled via adjusting the content of solution (i.e., water and ethanol). The rationally designed Co₃O₄-rGO composites showed the superior selectivity and high sensitivity towards formaldehyde molecules at low working temperature (ca. 78 °C). Among them, the ultra-small Co₃O₄ NCs (ca. 3 nm) decorated 5% rGO nanosheets exhibited the optimal formaldehyde sensing performance, such as low detection limit (100 ppb), high stability and excellent anti-humidity. Such an excellent performance was attributed to the high catalytic activity of crystalline Co₃O₄ NCs and abundant oxygen-containing groups of rGO. This work provides a new concept of “nanocrystals catalysis-sensing” to guide the low-temperature formaldehyde monitoring.
- Gas sensor,
- Nanocrystalline,
- Catalytic sensing,
- Interface confinement effect,
- Heterojunction structure
1. [1]
  T. Salthammer, S. Mentese, R. Marutzky, Chem. Rev. 110 (2010) 2536–2572. doi: 10.1021/cr800399g
2. [2]
  Y. Tang, Y. Zhao, W. Lin, Nat. Protoc. 15 (2020) 3499–3526. doi: 10.1038/s41596-020-0384-7
3. [3]
  N. Wang, Z. Liu, Y. Zhou, et al., Small 20 (2024) 2310465. doi: 10.1002/smll.202310465
4. [4]
  Z. Chen, J. Wang, X. Liu, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 147 (2025) 3478–3487. doi: 10.1021/jacs.4c14808
5. [5]
  H. Liang, X. Guo, L. Guo, et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. 33 (2023) 2215099. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202215099
6. [6]
  Y. Geng, Y. Cao, R. Wu, et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. 35 (2025) 2422578. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202422578
7. [7]
  J. Zhang, F. Lv, Z. Li, et al., Adv. Mater. 34 (2022) 2105276. doi: 10.1002/adma.202105276
8. [8]
  S. Shao, H.W. Kim, S.S. Kim, Y. Chen, M. Lai, Appl. Surf. Sci. 516 (2020) 145932. doi: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2020.145932
9. [9]
  W. Geng, Z. Ma, Y. Zhao, et al., Sens. Actuator. B: Chem. 325 (2020) 128775. doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2020.128775
10. [10]
  L. Zhou, X. Chang, W. Zheng, X. Liu, J. Zhang, Chem. Eng. J. 475 (2023) 146300. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2023.146300
11. [11]
  L.X. Zhang, M.M. Zhao, Y.Y. Yin, Y. Xing, L.J. Bie, Rare Met. 41 (2022) 2292–2304. doi: 10.1007/s12598-021-01946-3
12. [12]
  J.H. Li, J. Wu, Y.X. Yu, Appl. Surf. Sci. 546 (2021) 149104. doi: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2021.149104
13. [13]
  L. Zhu, J. Wang, J. Liu, et al., Sens. Actuator. B: Chem. 403 (2024) 135129. doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2023.135129
14. [14]
  R. Zhang, S. Cao, T. Zhou, et al., Sens. Actuator. B: Chem. 310 (2020) 127695. doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2020.127695
15. [15]
  A. Sharma, S.B. Eadi, H. Noothalapati, et al., Chem. Soc. Rev. 53 (2024) 2530–2577. doi: 10.1039/d2cs00761d
16. [16]
  J. Li, Z. Wang, Y. Deng, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 35 (2024) 110111. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110111
17. [17]
  Y. Deng, Y. Liu, Y. Deng, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 35 (2024) 108898. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.108898
18. [18]
  H. Zhang, H. Wang, J. Zhang, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 37 (2026) 111180. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111180
19. [19]
  B. Shen, T. Yuan, W. Zhang, Y. Chen, J. Xu, Chin. Chem. Lett. 35 (2024) 109490. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109490
20. [20]
  H. Zhang, S. Guo, Y. Chen, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 37 (2026) 111328. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111328
21. [21]
  J. Hu, Y. Zou, Y. Deng, et al., Prog. Mater. Sci. 150 (2025) 101409. doi: 10.1016/j.pmatsci.2024.101409
22. [22]
  B. Feng, Y. Feng, Y. Li, et al., ACS Sens. 7 (2022) 3963–3972. doi: 10.1021/acssensors.2c02232
23. [23]
  P. Li, L. Diao, X. Liao, et al., Nano Lett. 25 (2025) 8243–8250. doi: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c01309
24. [24]
  B. Feng, Z. Wang, Y. Feng, et al., ACS Nano 18 (2024) 22888–22900. doi: 10.1021/acsnano.4c03566
25. [25]
  P.M. Bulemo, D.H. Kim, H. Shin, et al., Chem. Rev. 125 (2025) 4111–4183. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00592
26. [26]
  J. Hu, F. Wang, J. Yu, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 37 (2026) 110863. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.110863
27. [27]
  Y. Chen, L. Liu, J. Li, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 37 (2026) 111654. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111654
28. [28]
  J. Li, X. Chen, X. Zhu, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 35 (2024) 108286. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.108286
29. [29]
  Z. Zhou, J. Song, Y. Xie, et al., Chin. Chem. Lett. 36 (2025) 110906. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.110906
30. [30]
  Y. Chen, J. Xu, Y. Pan, Q. Cao, K. Yuan, Chin. Chem. Lett. 37 (2026) 110606. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110606
31. [31]
  Z. Xiao, L.B. Kong, S. Ruan, et al., Sens. Actuator. B: Chem. 274 (2018) 235–267. doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2018.07.040
32. [32]
  F. Yin, W. Yue, Y. Li, et al., Carbon 180 (2021) 274–297. doi: 10.1016/j.carbon.2021.04.080
33. [33]
  J. Wu, H. Lin, D.J. Moss, K.P. Loh, B. Jia, Nat. Rev. Chem. 7 (2023) 162–183. doi: 10.1038/s41570-022-00458-7
34. [34]
  A.D. Ugale, G.G. Umarji, S.H. Jung, et al., Sens. Actuator. B: Chem. 308 (2020) 127690. doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2020.127690
35. [35]
  J. Han, Y. Wang, W. Zhou, et al., Sens. Actuator. B: Chem. 422 (2025) 136613. doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2024.136613
36. [36]
  H. Wu, N. Yu, Y. Yuan, S. Wang, Sens. Actuator. B: Chem. 427 (2025) 137157. doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2024.137157
37. [37]
  J. Zhang, X. Jia, T. Liu, et al., Sens. Actuator. B: Chem. 359 (2022) 131601. doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2022.131601
38. [38]
  Z. Ye, H. Tai, T. Xie, et al., Sens. Actuator. B: Chem. 223 (2016) 149–156. doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2015.09.102
39. [39]
  Z. Bo, M. Yuan, S. Mao, et al., Sens. Actuator. B: Chem. 256 (2018) 1011–1020. doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2017.10.043
40. [40]
  W. Zhang, H. Xu, F. Xie, et al., Nat. Commun. 13 (2022) 471. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-13822-5_42
41. [41]
  Y. Dong, K. He, L. Yin, A. Zhang, Nanotechnology 18 (2007) 435602. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/18/43/435602
42. [42]
  X. Liang, X. Wang, J. Zhuang, et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. 16 (2006) 1805–1813. doi: 10.1002/adfm.200500884
43. [43]
  W. Liu, Y. An, X. Zhang, et al., Adv. Funct. Mater. 34 (2024) 2313274. doi: 10.1002/adfm.202313274
44. [44]
  P.-H. Chang, Y. Yang, Y. Wen, et al., Chem. Eng. J. 500 (2024) 156379. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2024.156379
45. [45]
  L. Nowakowski, C. Hudy, F. Zasada, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 146 (2024) 24450–24466. doi: 10.1021/jacs.4c06587
46. [46]
  Y. Liu, J. Li, A. Das, et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 143 (2021) 21532–21540. doi: 10.1021/jacs.1c07236
47. [47]
  B. Xiao, X. Liu, Z. Xie, et al., Chem. Eng. J. 503 (2025) 158269. doi: 10.1016/j.cej.2024.158269
48. [48]
  L. Zhao, C. Xin, C. Yu, et al., InfoMat 7 (2025) e12634. doi: 10.1002/inf2.12634
49. [49]
  G. Fan, L. Nie, H. Wang, et al., Sens. Actuator. B: Chem. 373 (2022) 132640. doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2022.132640
50. [50]
  T. Haldar, J.W. Shiu, R.X. Yang, et al., ACS Sens. 9 (2024) 5856–5865. doi: 10.1021/acssensors.4c01397
1. [1]
  Yu Deng , Yan Liu , Yonghui Deng , Jinsheng Cheng , Yidong Zou , Wei Luo . In situ sulfur-doped mesoporous tungsten oxides for gas sensing toward benzene series. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(7): 108898-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.108898
2. [2]
  Miaomiao Li , Mengwei Yuan , Xingzi Zheng , Kunyu Han , Genban Sun , Fujun Li , Huifeng Li . Highly polar CoP/Co₂P heterojunction composite as efficient cathode electrocatalyst for Li-air battery. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(9): 109265-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109265
3. [3]
  Siqi Sun , Cheng Zhao , Zhaohuan Zhang , Ding Wang , Xinru Yin , Jingting Han , Jinlei Wei , Yong Zhao , Yongheng Zhu . Highly selective QCM sensor based on functionalized hierarchical hollow TiO₂ nanospheres for detecting ppb-level 3-hydroxy-2-butanone biomarker at room temperature. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(5): 109939-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109939
4. [4]
  Mingyuan Pang , Yiping Su , Haohao Zhang , Laixin Hong , Yue Wang , Yujie Ma , Min Yang , Mengge Guo , Zimai Wang , Zhen Kong , Jiajia Ye , Juan An , Guanglei Wu . Co-construction of sulfur and tin vacancies in Bi₂S₃@Sn_0.904O₂ as a durable anode for lithium-ion batteries. Acta Physico-Chimica Sinica, 2026, 42(11): 100368-0. doi: 10.1016/j.actphy.2026.100368
5. [5]
  Wenxuan Yang , Long Shang , Xiaomeng Liu , Sihan Zhang , Haixia Li , Zhenhua Yan , Jun Chen . Ultrafast synthesis of nanocrystalline spinel oxides by Joule-heating method. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(11): 109501-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109501
6. [6]
  Zhen Liu , Xinyi Xu , Jinkai He , Fei Xu , Qian Li . Revealing the synergistic effect of materials composition and pollutants structure on catalytic degradation mechanism in heterogeneous iron-based Fenton-like reactions. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(4): 111644-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111644
7. [7]
  Zhongchao Zhou , Jian Song , Yinghao Xie , Yuqian Ma , Hong Hu , Hui Li , Lei Zhang , Charles H. Lawrie . DFT calculation for organic semiconductor-based gas sensors: Sensing mechanism, dynamic response and sensing materials. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(6): 110906-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.110906
8. [8]
  Jie Ma , Jianxiang Wang , Jianhua Yuan , Xiao Liu , Yun Yang , Fei Yu . The regulating strategy of hierarchical structure and acidity in zeolites and application of gas adsorption: A review. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(11): 109693-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109693
9. [9]
  Jichun Li , Zhengren Wang , Yu Deng , Hongxiu Yu , Yonghui Deng , Xiaowei Cheng , Kaiping Yuan . Construction of mesoporous silica-implanted tungsten oxides for selective acetone gas sensing. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(11): 110111-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110111
10. [10]
  Yidan Chen , Luyang Liu , Jichun Li , Yu Deng , Hongxiu Yu , Kaiping Yuan , Yuanyuan Zhang , Yu Wang , Yonghui Deng . Flexible gas sensors based on in situ fabricated hierarchically porous SnO₂/PEDOT:PSS sensing layer. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(4): 111654-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111654
11. [11]
  Ruijing Fu , Bin Xiao , Haoyuan Weng , Pan Wang , Guangxia Wang , Qingguang Zeng , Dawei Wen , Guanjun Xiao . An optical pressure sensing phosphor of high-sensitivity by soft structure. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(3): 111916-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111916
12. [12]
  Ting WANG , Peipei ZHANG , Shuqin LIU , Ruihong WANG , Jianjun ZHANG . A Bi-CP-based solid-state thin-film sensor: Preparation and luminescence sensing for bioamine vapors. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2024, 40(8): 1615-1621. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20240134
13. [13]
  Aoran LIU , Rui LI , Zongyao WANG , Penghui SHANG , Jiawei WAN , Dan WANG . Hollow multi-shelled structure materials for catalytic applications. Chinese Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, 2025, 41(10): 2039-2053. doi: 10.11862/CJIC.20250036
14. [14]
  Yaofei Zhang , Jiani Chen , Haotian Hu , Jianghua Huang , Jiafeng Wei , Fukun Bi , Xiaodong Zhang . Impact of residual ions on catalyst structure and catalytic performance: A review. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(3): 111549-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2025.111549
15. [15]
  Yidan Chen , Junzhou Xu , Yanjun Pan , Qi Cao , Kaiping Yuan . Trace detection of benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) by chemiresistive metal oxide-based gas sensors: Recent advances in heterojunction materials design. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2026, 37(2): 110606-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110606
16. [16]
  Ting Huang , Xiaohua Zhu , Meiling Liu , Haitao Li , Youyu Zhang , Yang Liu , Shouzhuo Yao . Bioinspired interface-mediated multichannel sensor array for rapid and robust identification of bacteria. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2025, 36(8): 110530-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110530
17. [17]
  Chenlu Huang , Xinyu Yang , Qingyu Yu , Linhua Zhang , Dunwan Zhu . Gas-generating polymersomes-based amplified photoimmunotherapy for abscopal effect and tumor metastasis inhibition. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(6): 109680-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.109680
18. [18]
  Shudi Yu , Jie Li , Jiongting Yin , Wanyu Liang , Yangping Zhang , Tianpeng Liu , Mengyun Hu , Yong Wang , Zhengying Wu , Yuefan Zhang , Yukou Du . Built-in electric field and core-shell structure of the reconstructed sulfide heterojunction accelerated water splitting. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(12): 110068-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2024.110068
19. [19]
  Shiqi Peng , Yongfang Rao , Tan Li , Yufei Zhang , Jun-ji Cao , Shuncheng Lee , Yu Huang . Regulating the electronic structure of Ir single atoms by ZrO₂ nanoparticles for enhanced catalytic oxidation of formaldehyde at room temperature. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(7): 109219-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109219
20. [20]
  Chen Lian , Si-Han Zhao , Hai-Lou Li , Xinhua Cao . A giant Ce-containing poly(tungstobismuthate): Synthesis, structure and catalytic performance for the decontamination of a sulfur mustard simulant. Chinese Chemical Letters, 2024, 35(10): 109343-. doi: 10.1016/j.cclet.2023.109343

Get Citation

PDF

XML

Metrics

PDF Downloads(0)
Abstract views(40)
HTML views(4)

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

1.
沈阳化工大学材料科学与工程学院沈阳 110142

Exceptional domain-confined growth of Co3O4 nanocrystals-decorated reduced graphene oxide for formaldehyde sensing at low temperatures

Metrics

通讯作者: 陈斌, bchen63@163.com

Exceptional domain-confined growth of Co₃O₄ nanocrystals-decorated reduced graphene oxide for formaldehyde sensing at low temperatures