Identification of Two Commercial Pesticides by a Nanoparticle Gas-Sensing Array

Abstract

This study presents the experimental testing of a gas-sensing array, for the detection of two commercially available pesticides (i.e., Chloract 48 EC and Nimrod), towards its eventual use along a commercial smart-farming system. The array is comprised of four distinctive sensing devices based on nanoparticles, each functionalized with a different gas-absorbing polymeric layer. As discussed herein, the sensing array is able to identify as well as quantify three gas-analytes, two pesticide solutions, and relative humidity, which acts as a reference analyte. All of the evaluation experiments were conducted in close to real-life conditions; specifically, the sensors response towards the three analytes was tested in three relative humidity backgrounds while the effect of temperature was also considered. The unique response patterns generated after the exposure of the sensing-array to the two gas-analytes were analyzed using the common statistical analysis tool Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The sensing array, being compact, low-cost, and highly sensitive, can be easily integrated with pre-existing crop-monitoring solutions. Given that there are limited reports for effective pesticide gas-sensing solutions, the proposed gas-sensing technology would significantly upgrade the added-value of the integrated system, providing it with unique advantages.

Breath Analysis: A Promising Tool for Disease Diagnosis—The Role of Sensors

“…Notably, the combinations of MNPs with polymers, apart from molecular organic ligands, comprise a promising type of coating materials for chemical cross-selectivity to be achieved. Chemically unmodified MNPs (Pt [ 48 , 123 ] or Au [ 71 ] of mean diameter 4–5 nm [ 41 , 48 , 123 ]), coated with different polymeric films and with affinity for different compounds, have been investigated along with pattern recognition methods for pesticide detection [ 41 ] and more recently pesticide discrimination (chlorpyrifos, bupirimate, and humidity) [ 124 ]. The sensing film is deposited on Au IDEs [ 41 ] while the device can be fabricated on rigid (e.g., oxidized Si wafer) [ 41 , 48 ] or flexible (e.g., polyimide) [ 123 ] substrate as can be seen in Figure 7 .…”

Forecasting the Post-Pandemic Effects of the SARS-CoV-2 Virus Using the Bullwhip Phenomenon Alongside Use of Nanosensors for Disease Containment and Cure

“…The use of silicon nanowires as gas sensors is fraught with difficulties, as the silicon oxide and interface have a high density, regarding the surface states. When employed as a sensor, the presence of native silicon oxide on the silicon (Si) nanowire surface reduces the sensitivity of the field-effect transistor device [ 122 ]. Furthermore, at the air/silicone oxide interface, silicone nanowires employed, or used as gas sensors, suffer from high density, regarding the trap states [ 123 ].…”

“…When positive gate voltages are applied, the drain-source current decreases systemically, thus lowering the concentration of volatile organic molecules. The silicon oxide monolayer interfaces are modified as a result of the effective dipole moment of the organic monolayer state density, which alters the conductivity of Si NW [ 122 ].…”

Detection of Chlorpyrifos Using Bio-Inspired Silver Nanograss

“…Table S1. Comparison with other sensing techniques such as mass spectroscopy, colorimetry, fluorescence, and UV-vis [ 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ].…”