Amino‐Functionalized Mesoporous SiO 2 Hollow Nano‐Doughnuts for Enhanced Gas Adsorption and Specific Foodborne Pathogen Recognition in Point‐of‐Care Detection
Xingyu Wang, Haixia Zhou, Miaomiao Li, Pengcheng Xu, Zhongxiao Zhang, Yuanshuai Fu, Yuan Zhang, Yongheng ZhuABSTRACT
Developing rapid, precise gas sensors for Listeria monocytogenes ( LM ) biomarker detection faces challenges due to suboptimal gas‐solid interactions. Herein, we report the rational synthesis of amino‐functionalized mesoporous SiO 2 hollow nano‐doughnuts (MS‐2‐NH 2 ‐2) via modification with (3‐aminopropyl) trimethoxysilane (AAPTMS), which enables exceptional detection performance for the LM biomarker 3‐hydroxy‐2‐butanone (3H2B). The MS‐2‐NH 2 ‐2‐based quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors exhibited high sensitivity (1980 Hz@50 ppm 3H2B), effective selectivity, low detection limit (100 ppb), rapid response/recovery kinetics (9/10 s), good repeatability, and outstanding humidity resistance. Furthermore, to enhance the selectivity performance of MS‐2‐NH 2 ‐2 in practical applications, the K‐nearest neighbor algorithm is implemented to identify 3H2B, single interfering gases, and mixed gases. These performances stem from AAPTMS‐derived amino groups, mesoporous structure, and doughnut‐like hollow morphology, which enhance gas‐material interactions. Temperature‐programmed experiments revealed a −45.18 kJ mol −1 enthalpy change, confirming reversible chemisorption between MS‐2‐NH 2 ‐2 and 3H2B. In situ DRIFTS confirmed selective detection driven by –NH 2 –carbonyl interactions. Additionally, practical validation in complex food matrices demonstrates the sensor's capability for real‐time 3H2B monitoring with high accuracy and reliability, suggesting its potential as a rapid, field‐deployable screening tool for LM prioritization in food safety applications.