1. Congratulations on receiving the Best Paper Award. Could you please briefly introduce yourself to our readers and share your current research focus, including any recent developments in your work?
I am Professor Yuan Zhenyu from the College of Information Science and Engineering at Northeastern University in China. My main research areas include micro/nano-semiconductor gas sensors, trace gas detection technology and qualitative and quantitative identification, as well as high-performance electronic noses for robot searches.

2. Could you briefly introduce the key research focus and main findings of your award-winning paper?
This study synthesizes Ni-doped perovskite-structured LaFeO₃ composite materials via a one-step hydrothermal method, characterizes the morphology and structure of the materials, and tests their gas sensing performance. The gas sensor exhibits a response as high as 102 towards 100 ppm of triethylamine at 190 °C, along with better selectivity and stability. The Ni-doped perovskite-structured LaFeO₃ sample can adsorb more oxygen, promoting the reaction between adsorbed oxygen and the target gas and thereby improving the gas sensitivity performance.

3. Looking ahead, what impact do you hope your research will have on the field, and what do you consider to be the most significant innovation presented in your paper?
I hope that my series of work can provide a reference for the construction of high-performance gas sensors and further applications. The innovation of this paper is based on perovskite, which has a molecular formula of ABO₃, where both the A-site and B-site elements are easily replaced by other doping elements, resulting in the strong adaptability and tunability of perovskite oxides’ structure. Meanwhile, doping is an effective method used to improve the performance of gas-sensitive materials. Thus, in this study, spherical LaFeO₃ composite gas-sensitive materials doped with Ni were synthesized using a hydrothermal method. The microstructure was studied through characterizations, and the gas sensitivity performance towards TEA was also tested.

4. Could you share some of the major challenges in your research area, as well as any recent breakthroughs that you find particularly exciting?
I think the starting point for making semiconductor gas sensors is to control sensitive materials with micro/nano-structures to enhance sensitivity, but there are also challenges, which are how to apply high-performance gas sensors. I think one interesting point is that we have applied our self-developed gas sensor to inspection robots, breaking through challenges such as detection limits and stability and achieving olfactory navigation functions.

5. In your view, how does open access publishing contribute to the dissemination of knowledge and the advancement of research in your area?
I think open access publishing can make it more convenient for relevant researchers to access the full text of research results, understand the research details in the paper, and play a very positive role in promoting common research in the field.

6. Do you have any advice for young researchers who aspire to produce high-impact research results?
Persist in your own research and do not rush for quick success. Pay more attention to the research work of domestic and foreign peers to obtain ideas. Encourage cooperation and strive for cross-complementarity.