Gas sensors based on nanostructured materials

Abstract

Gas detection is important for controlling industrial and vehicle emissions, household security and environmental monitoring. In recent decades many devices have been developed for detecting CO(2), CO, SO(2), O(2), O(3), H(2), Ar, N(2), NH(3), H(2)O and several organic vapours. However, the low selectivity or the high operation temperatures required when most gas sensors are used have prompted the study of new materials and the new properties that come about from using traditional materials in a nanostructured mode. In this paper, we have reviewed the main research studies that have been made of gas sensors that use nanomaterials. The main quality characteristics of these new sensing devices have enabled us to make a critical review of the possible advantages and drawbacks of these nanostructured material-based sensors.

First Fifty Years of Chemoresistive Gas Sensors

“…The synthesis procedure, crystal size and shape, the addition of foreign elements with the role of sensitizers or conductivity modifiers are some of the factors influencing the sensor response [17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25].…”

“…There are already many excellent review articles on this topic in which readers can obtain a complete picture of chemoresistive gas sensors research from various perspectives [8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. In this brief review, a chronological approach is taken in order to not only examine the past, but also to identify key concepts, new materials and technologies, as well as predict innovative ideas for the future.…”

Experimental and Theoretical Study of Low-Dimensional Iron Oxide Nanostructures

“…Iron oxide nanoparticles have shown good sensing capabilities toward hydrocarbon gases, CO and alcohols (Jimenez-Cadena et al, 2007;Han et al, 1996Han et al, , 1999Han et al, , and 2001. The studies by Zhang et al (1996) and Tao et al (1999) showed that -Fe 2 O 3 nanosensors exhibited good sensitivity and selectivity to a range of hydrocarbon gases such as LPG, petrol and C 2 H 2 at 380 °C, but poor sensitivity to H 2 and CO.…”

“…In the past decades, many sensor devices have been developed for various gases such as CO, CO 2 , O 2 , O 3 , H 2 , NH 3 and SO 2 , as well as various organic vapors e.g., benzene, methanol, ethanol, amines and isopropanol (Jimenez-Cadena et al 2007). Although semiconducting oxides have been quite useful as gas sensors, the operation at high temperatures often limits their functionality and applications.…”

Room temperature vanadium dioxide–carbon nanotube gas sensors made via continuous hydrothermal flow synthesis

“…Nanomaterials have shown promise for sensing of low concentrations of analyte, due to their high surface area and electronic properties that are affected by the local environment [3][4][5] . In some cases, the particular application and nanomaterial characteristics, permit sensor operation at room temperature, resulting in lower power consumption and increasing sensor suitability for use in portable devices 6 .…”