Sustainable synthesis of quaternary vanadate nanoparticles for efficient room-temperature detection of formaldehyde via disposable chemiresistive sensing

The development of highly sensitive sensors for detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particularly carcinogenic formaldehyde, is essential for safeguarding human health and maintaining air quality. This study reports the development of a sensitive and disposable chemiresistive gas sensor for formaldehyde detection, utilizing green-synthesized quaternary Fe, Co-vanadate nanoparticles (FeCoVO[Formula: see text] NPs) produced using Citrus sinensis bio-waste. The nanoparticles exhibit a crystalline structure and remarkable optical, dielectric and magnetic properties. The sensor demonstrated rapid response and recovery times (10/15 s), high sensitivity (0.22% ± 0.05%/ppm) and limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 0.15 ppm and 0.46 ppm, respectively. The eco-friendly synthesis and multifunctional capabilities of the FeCoVO[Formula: see text] NPs indicate their potential for diverse applications, including environmental monitoring, workplace safety and healthcare.