MOF-Derived SnO2/MXene Heterostructure for ppb-Level Rapid and Selective Hydrogen Sensing toward Lactose Intolerance Diagnosis.

Hydrogen (H2) in exhaled breath serves as a key indicator for diagnosing lactose intolerance and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth, as its concentration increases significantly in affected individuals after carbohydrate ingestion. Thus, noninvasive detection of trace H2 offers an effective method for early diagnosis and monitoring of gastrointestinal disorders. In this work, a SnO2/Ti3C2Tx MXene heterojunction sensor was constructed by using metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived SnO2 nanoparticles, achieving ultrafast hydrogen sensing at low temperatures. The sensor showed a 16.14% response to 300 ppb of H2 within 1 s at 70 °C, with a detection limit as low as 5.19 ppb. It exhibited excellent stability, humidity tolerance, and high selectivity. DFT calculations and in situ Raman spectroscopy reveal that gas response arises from direct reconstruction of the unique interfacial electronic structure. The sensor distinguishes between simulated breath of lactose-intolerant and healthy individuals, showing strong potential for clinical diagnostics and gastrointestinal monitoring.