Synergistic MnO₂–TiO₂ nanocomposite chemiresistor for selective and sensitive breath acetone sensing in diabetes diagnostics
摘要
Acetone, a volatile organic compound in human breath, is a vital biomarker for noninvasive diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. This work presents a novel MnO₂–TiO₂ nanocomposite-based chemiresistive sensor engineered for highly selective and sensitive detection of breath acetone at room temperature. The formation of an n–n heterojunction between MnO₂ and TiO₂ enhances charge carrier mobility and surface reactivity, enabling superior sensing performance. The synergistic interaction between the two oxides offers abundant active sites for gas adsorption and promotes selective oxidative interactions. The sensor demonstrates high selectivity against common interferents, excellent stability, and strong clinical relevance by distinguishing diabetic and non-diabetic breath profiles. This study provides a promising pathway for the development of real-time, noninvasive breath sensors for diabetes diagnostics.