The detection and removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are of great importance to reduce the risk of indoor air quality concerns. This study reports the rational synthesis of a dual-functional Janus nanostructure and its feasibility for simultaneous detection and removal of VOCs. The Janus nanostructure was synthesized via an anisotropic growth method, composed of plasmonic nanoparticles, semiconductors, and metal organic frameworks (e.g., Au@ZnO@ZIF-8). It exhibits excellent selective detection to formaldehyde (HCHO, as a representative VOC) at room temperature over a wide range of concentrations (from 0.25 to 100 ppm), even in the presence of water and toluene molecules as interferences. In addition, HCHO was also found to be partially oxidized into non-toxic formic acid simultaneously with detection. The mechanism underlying this technology was unraveled by both experimental measurements and theoretical calculations: ZnO maintains the conductivity while ZIF-8 improves the selective gas adsorption; the plasmonic effect of Au nanorods enhances the visible-light driven photocatalysis of ZnO at room temperature.

挥发性有机化合物（VOC）的检测和清除对于降低室内空气质量风险非常重要。这项研究报告了双功能Janus纳米结构的合理合成及其同时检测和去除VOC的可行性。Janus纳米结构是通过各向异性生长方法合成的，该方法由等离子体纳米颗粒，半导体和金属有机骨架（例如Au @ ZnO @ ZIF-8）组成。即使在存在水和甲苯分子干扰的情况下，它在室温下也能在宽范围的浓度范围（0.25至100 ppm）中对甲醛（HCHO，代表VOC）表现出出色的选择性检测能力。此外，还发现HCHO在检测的同时会部分氧化为无毒的甲酸。实验测量和理论计算均未阐明该技术的基本机理：ZnO保持电导率，而ZIF-8改善选择性气体吸附。Au纳米棒的等离激元效应增强了室温下可见光驱动的ZnO的光催化作用。