A sensitive diethyl
ether gas sensor based on cataluminescence on
nano-Pd/ZnNi3Al2O7 at a temperature
lower than 150 °C was reported. The composition of the sensitive
material was determined by energy-dispersive spectrometry, and a particle
size of less than 50 nm was shown by transmission electron microscopy.
When the atomic percentage of Pd in the sensing material is 0.8–1.3%,
it is beneficial to the low-temperature and high-selective cataluminescence
of diethyl ether. The signal response and recovery of diethyl ether
on the sensitive material can be completed quickly in 0.5 s, and the
relative standard deviation of the signal within 500 h of continuous
operation is not more than 2.5%. There is good linear relationship
between the luminescence intensity and the concentration of diethyl
ether in the range of 0.08–75 mg/m3. The detection
limit (3σ) is 0.04 mg/m3. The working conditions
optimized by the response surface methodology were an analytical wavelength
of 548.86 nm, a reaction temperature of 109.18 °C, and a carrier
gas velocity of 125.88 mL/min. The sensitivity of the method can be
increased by 4.5% under the optimized working conditions. The optimization
method is universal for many multi-parameter processes.