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Gas Sensors: Progress, Perspectives and Challenges
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Gas Sensors: Progress, Perspectives and Challenges

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemical Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 July 2025 | Viewed by 9974

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Paulina Powroźnik

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Physics CSE, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland
Interests: resistance and acoustic gas sensors; detection of the amount of trace of battlefield poisonous substances; sensor structures—semiconductor materials, layered configurations
Dr. Maciej Krzywiecki

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Physics CSE, Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland
Interests: photoelectron spectroscopy; molecular electronics; phthalocyanines; ultra-thin film technologies; organic photovoltaics; scanning microscopies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The research on gas sensors has been of big interest for many decades due to the broad range of applications in many fields, such as environmental protection, combustion gas detection, medical diagnosis, civil safety, and food quality control. Yet, this area is still rapidly expanding. Thanks to the development of materials science and nanotechnology, new sensing materials are being constantly searched, as the modifications of well-known sensing materials are applied to improve the sensitivity, selectivity, and response times and decrease sensor operating temperature. Also, the rapid improvement of experimental techniques combined with computational power increase allow us to understand better mechanisms of particular gas detection. Thus, more efficient devices can be designed.

The Special Issue will provide a forum for the latest research activities in the field of gas sensors and review articles on the latest progress in this area. Both review articles and original research papers are solicited in, though not limited to, the following areas:

  • New materials for gas sensors;
  • New sensing techniques;
  • Novel approaches for gas sensor design and testing;
  • Models and computational simulations for the gas-sensing material interaction;
  • Processes and fabrication technologies for gas sensors.

Dr. Paulina Powroźnik
Dr. Maciej Krzywiecki
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sensors is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • materials for gas sensors
  • gas sensor design
  • sensing techniques
  • modelling
  • simulations

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

23 pages, 14254 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Acetone-Sensing Performance of a Bilayer Structure Gas Sensor Composed of a ZnO Nanorod Top Layer and a ZnFe2O4 Nanoparticle Decorated ZnO Nanorod Bottom Layer
by Hao Wu, Huichao Zhu, Jianwei Zhang, Jun Yu, Zhenan Tang, Guanyu Yao, Wenqing Zhao, Guohui Wu and Xia Jin
Sensors 2024, 24(23), 7851; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24237851 - 8 Dec 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1120
Abstract
In this study, we report a high-performance acetone gas sensor utilizing a bilayer structure composed of a ZnO nanorod top layer and a ZnFe2O4 nanoparticle-decorated ZnO nanorod bottom layer. ZnO nanorods were synthesized via a water-bath method, after which the [...] Read more.
In this study, we report a high-performance acetone gas sensor utilizing a bilayer structure composed of a ZnO nanorod top layer and a ZnFe2O4 nanoparticle-decorated ZnO nanorod bottom layer. ZnO nanorods were synthesized via a water-bath method, after which the ZnFe2O4 nanoparticle-decorated ZnO nanorods were prepared using a simple immersion and calcination method. SEM and TEM revealed the porous morphology of the samples and the formation of ZnO-ZnFe2O4 heterojunctions. XPS analysis demonstrated an increase in oxygen vacancy content with the introduction of ZnFe2O4 nanoparticles. Compared to pure ZnO nanorods, ZnFe2O4-decorated ZnO nanorods showed a 3.9-fold increase in response to 50 ppm acetone. Covering this layer with ZnO nanorods further increased the response by an additional 1.6 times, and simultaneously enhanced the selectivity to acetone. The top layer improves gas sensing performance by introducing heterojunctions with the bottom layer, partially blocking acetone gas at the bottom layer to facilitate a more complete reaction, and filtering ethanol interference. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gas Sensors: Progress, Perspectives and Challenges)
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12 pages, 27277 KiB  
Article
Process Development of a Liquid-Gated Graphene Field-Effect Transistor Gas Sensor for Applications in Smart Agriculture
by Jian Lu, Naoki Shiraishi, Ryo Imaizumi, Lan Zhang and Mutsumi Kimura
Sensors 2024, 24(19), 6376; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24196376 - 1 Oct 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1417
Abstract
A compact, multi-channel ionic liquid-gated graphene field-effect transistor (FET) has been proposed and developed in our work for on-field continuous monitoring of nitrate nitrogen and other nitrogen fertilizers to achieve sustainable and efficient farming practices in agriculture. However, fabricating graphene FETs with easy [...] Read more.
A compact, multi-channel ionic liquid-gated graphene field-effect transistor (FET) has been proposed and developed in our work for on-field continuous monitoring of nitrate nitrogen and other nitrogen fertilizers to achieve sustainable and efficient farming practices in agriculture. However, fabricating graphene FETs with easy filling of ionic liquids, minimal graphene defects, and high process yields remains challenging, given the sensitivity of these devices to processing conditions and environmental factors. In this work, two approaches for the fabrication of our graphene FETs were presented, evaluated, and compared for high yields and easy filling of ionic liquids. The process difficulties, major obstacles, and improvements are discussed herein in detail. Both devices, those fabricated using a 3 μm-thick CYTOP® layer for position restriction and volume control of the ionic liquid and those using a ~20 nm-thick photosensitive hydrophobic layer for the same purpose, exhibited typical FET characteristics and were applicable to various application environments. The research findings and experiences presented in this paper will provide important references to related societies for the design, fabrication, and application of liquid-gated graphene FETs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gas Sensors: Progress, Perspectives and Challenges)
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12 pages, 3559 KiB  
Article
SAW Humidity Sensing with rr-P3HT Polymer Films
by Wiesław Jakubik, Jarosław Wrotniak, Cinzia Caliendo, Massimiliano Benetti, Domenico Cannata, Andrea Notargiacomo, Agnieszka Stolarczyk and Anna Kaźmierczak-Bałata
Sensors 2024, 24(11), 3651; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24113651 - 5 Jun 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1225
Abstract
In the present paper the humidity sensing properties of regioregular rr-P3HT (poly-3-hexylthiophene) polymer films is investigated by means of surface acoustic wave (SAW) based sensors implemented on LiNbO3 (1280 Y-X) and ST-quartz piezoelectric substrates. The polymeric layers were deposited along the [...] Read more.
In the present paper the humidity sensing properties of regioregular rr-P3HT (poly-3-hexylthiophene) polymer films is investigated by means of surface acoustic wave (SAW) based sensors implemented on LiNbO3 (1280 Y-X) and ST-quartz piezoelectric substrates. The polymeric layers were deposited along the SAW propagation path by spray coating method and the layers thickness was measured by atomic force microscopy (AFM) technique. The response of the SAW devices to relative humidity (rh) changes in the range ~5–60% has been investigated by measuring the SAW phase and frequency changes induced by the (rh) absorption in the rr-P3HT layer. The SAW sensor implemented onto LiNbO3 showed improved performance as the thickness of the membrane increases (from 40 to 240 nm): for 240 nm thick polymeric membrane a phase shift of about −1.2 deg and −8.2 deg was measured for the fundamental (~78 MHz operating frequency) and 3rd (~234 MHz) harmonic wave at (rh) = 60%. A thick rr-P3HT film (~600 nm) was deposited onto the quartz-based SAW sensor: the sensor showed a linear frequency shift of ~−20.5 Hz per unit (rh) changes in the ~5–~50% rh range, and a quite fast response (~5 s) even at low humidity level (~5% rh). The LiNbO3 and quartz-based sensors response was assessed by using a dual delay line system to reduce unwanted common mode signals. The simple and cheap spray coating technology for the rr-P3HT polymer films deposition, complemented with fast low level humidity detection of the tested SAW sensors (much faster than the commercially available Michell SF-52 device), highlight their potential in a low-medium range humidity sensing application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gas Sensors: Progress, Perspectives and Challenges)
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24 pages, 35023 KiB  
Article
Calibration of a Low-Cost Methane Sensor Using Machine Learning
by Hazel Louise Mitchell, Simon J. Cox and Hugh G. Lewis
Sensors 2024, 24(4), 1066; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24041066 - 6 Feb 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2453
Abstract
In order to combat greenhouse gas emissions, the sources of these emissions must be understood. Environmental monitoring using low-cost wireless devices is one method of measuring emissions in crucial but remote settings, such as peatlands. The Figaro NGM2611-E13 is a low-cost methane detection [...] Read more.
In order to combat greenhouse gas emissions, the sources of these emissions must be understood. Environmental monitoring using low-cost wireless devices is one method of measuring emissions in crucial but remote settings, such as peatlands. The Figaro NGM2611-E13 is a low-cost methane detection module based around the TGS2611-E00 sensor. The manufacturer provides sensitivity characteristics for methane concentrations above 300 ppm, but lower concentrations are typical in outdoor settings. This study investigates the potential to calibrate these sensors for lower methane concentrations using machine learning. Models of varying complexity, accounting for temperature and humidity variations, were trained on over 50,000 calibration datapoints, spanning 0–200 ppm methane, 5–30 °C and 40–80% relative humidity. Interaction terms were shown to improve model performance. The final selected model achieved a root-mean-square error of 5.1 ppm and an R2 of 0.997, demonstrating the potential for the NGM2611-E13 sensor to measure methane concentrations below 200 ppm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gas Sensors: Progress, Perspectives and Challenges)
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Review

Jump to: Research

22 pages, 5849 KiB  
Review
Intertwining Density Functional Theory and Experiments in the Investigation of Gas Sensing Mechanisms: A Review
by Paulina Powroźnik and Maciej Krzywiecki
Sensors 2025, 25(3), 867; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25030867 - 31 Jan 2025
Viewed by 2860
Abstract
In this review, we present the last ten years of progress in evaluation of gas sensing mechanisms. We focus mostly on the studies joining theoretical modeling of gas adsorption by density functional theory method with advanced experimental characterization of sensing materials. We provide [...] Read more.
In this review, we present the last ten years of progress in evaluation of gas sensing mechanisms. We focus mostly on the studies joining theoretical modeling of gas adsorption by density functional theory method with advanced experimental characterization of sensing materials. We provide the background about important aspects that should be taken into account during the design of the effective sensing device and an overview of the most recently studied sensing materials and analytes. Using the exemplary works, we next show how theory and experiment intertwine in revealing how the sensing mechanism serves to improve the device performance. In the end, we summarize the progress already made despite the existing difficulties, and provide an outlook for future methodological development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Gas Sensors: Progress, Perspectives and Challenges)
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