Dual-Motor Oxygen-Deficiency-Engineering Al-Doped W₁₈O_{49–<i>x</i>} Circular Nanorod Arrays for Parts per Billion-Level Acetone Detection

Developing low-temperature gas sensors for parts per billion-level acetone detection in breath analysis remains challenging for non-invasive diabetes monitoring. We implement dual-defect engineering via one-pot synthesis of Al-doped W₁₈O_49-<i>x</i> nanorod arrays, establishing a W-O_v-Al catalytic mechanism. Al³⁺ doping induces lattice strain to boost oxygen vacancy density by 31.74% while transforming passive O_v sites into active centers that enhance α-chemisorbed oxygen capacity and accelerate O₂ dissociation into reactive O^- species. This synergy strengthens acetone adsorption (density functional theory-confirmed adsorption energy of -1.607 eV) and directs selective oxidation to acetic/formic acid. Consequently, the Al-W₁₈O_49-<i>x</i> sensor demonstrates exceptional performance, including a maximum response of 65-50 ppm of acetone at 200 °C, an ultralow limit of detection (LOD) of 10 ppb, and remarkable long-term stability and durability, highlighting its potential for clinical diabetes diagnosis. Integrated with machine learning algorithms, it successfully discriminates healthy and simulated diabetic breath, enabling non-invasive clinical screening.