A stabilized zirconia (YSZ) based acetone sensor based on mixed potential sensing mechanism was fabricated using NiTa₂O₆sensing electrode (SE) calcinated at 1000 degrees C. The NiTa₂O₆sensing material was characterized by TG/DSC, XRD, SEM, Raman and XPS measurement. The gas sensing performance of developed sensing device demonstrated that the sensor based on NiTa₂O₆-SE displayed low detection limit of 200 ppb acetone and rapid response and recovery times of 9 s and 18 s to 2 ppm acetone at 600℃. Between the response value to wide concentration range of 0.2-200 ppm acetone and the acetone concentration logarithm for the developed sensor presented piecewise linear function. The fabricated acetone sensor also possessed good wet fastness, reproducibility and stability of 20 days, portending great potential in aspect of low and high acetone concentration detection. More importantly, the solid electrolyte type acetone sensor utilizing NiTa₂O₆-SE open up a new possibility for noninvasive diagnosis of diabetes through detecting exhaled breath of healthy people and diabetes patients.