Application and Advance of Gas Sensors

A special issue of Chemosensors (ISSN 2227-9040). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Chemical Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2023) | Viewed by 22347

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
1. State Key Lab oratory of Power Transmission Equipment & System Security and New Technology, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
2. School of Electrical Engineering and Automation, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
3. Hubei Engineering Research Center for Safety Monitoring of New Energy and Power Grid Equipment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
Interests: nanomaterials-based gas sensors; 2D structures; chemical sensors and biosensors; typical sensors in high-voltage devices; sensing experiment; first-principles theory; optical gas sensors
College of Artificial Intelligence, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
Interests: 2D nanomaterials-based gas sensors; toxic gas sensors; typical gas sensors in high-voltage devices; first-principles theory

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Gas sensors have traditionally played a major role in areas such as environmental monitoring, daily safety, industrial security and operation status evaluation of several typical devices, among others. With the growing interest in the gas sensing field comes the development of more techniques to prepare novel and advanced gas sensors for application in environmental protection, various industries and our daily lives.

To further progress the application of gas sensors, advancement in the following areas should be sought: first, miniaturization of MEMS gas sensors has become popular in recent years, and they can thus be largely developed; second, the application of new materials and the exploration of novel sensing materials is crucial to the continual improvement of gas sensing devices’ quality; and third, advanced algorithms should be applied to obtain more valuable information and improve gas sensors’ performance.

Furthermore, gas sensors still present some limits, such as low sensitivity and selectivity, a long response time and an uncertain sensing mechanism. Therefore, the exploration of novel sensing methods, such as nanosensing techniques and optical sensing methods, could aid the development of advanced sensing techniques and facilitate the progress of material science and optics. Sensing experiments and theoretical simulations are crucial to constructing a comprehensive understanding of sensing mechanisms and the properties of sensing candidates. Moreover, sensor arrays and algorithms should be constructed to resolve the issue of selectivity among gases. In addition, gas sensors’ application should be extended, especially for their use in harsh environments. Such research is imperative to the further development of gas sensors.

The aim of this Special Issue, “Application and Advance of Gas Sensors”, is therefore to highlight and share new approaches, solutions and applications of gas sensors in a range of fields, with the hope of resolving sensors’ low sensitivity and selectivity and improving their intelligence. Experimental and theoretical research will be prioritized for this Special Issue.

Both review articles and research papers are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Xiaoxing Zhang
Dr. Hao Cui
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • nanomaterials-based gas sensors
  • advanced 2D sensing materials
  • typical sensors in high-voltage devices
  • optical gas sensors
  • chemical gas sensors
  • first-principles theory
  • sensor arrays and algorithms

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Published Papers (11 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 7122 KiB  
Article
Preparation of 2-Butanone Gas Sensor Based on Ag-Decorated In2O3 Nanocube with High Response and Low Detection Level
by Hua Zhang, Yinghao Guo, Hongliang Gao and Fanli Meng
Chemosensors 2023, 11(5), 288; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11050288 - 11 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1750
Abstract
In this work, 2-butanone-sensitive Ag-decorated In2O3 nanocomposites were successfully prepared using a facile one-step hydrothermal method to enhance the sensing performance of In2O3 nanocubes. The methods of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission [...] Read more.
In this work, 2-butanone-sensitive Ag-decorated In2O3 nanocomposites were successfully prepared using a facile one-step hydrothermal method to enhance the sensing performance of In2O3 nanocubes. The methods of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to observe the morphology, microstructure, crystalline phase, and the existing state of the elements in the produced nanomaterials, respectively. The gas sensing test results show that the prepared compounds could respond to 100 ppm of 2-butanone with a high response (242), fourfold that of the pure In2O3 material, at the optimum working temperature of 240 °C. Moreover, the Ag@In2O3-based sensor also showed excellent selectivity, good repeatability, and even long-term stability. In addition, noble metal surface modification not only decreased the optimum operating temperature (from 270 °C to 240 °C) but also decreased the lowest detection limit (from 5 ppm to 0.25 ppm). In the final section, the gas sensing mechanism of the Ag@In2O3-based sensor and the probable reason for 2-butanone’s enhanced sensing properties are both discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application and Advance of Gas Sensors)
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15 pages, 15419 KiB  
Article
Perovskite-Structured NiTiO3 Modified NiO Gas Sensor for Xylene Detection
by Liyun Qin, Hongliang Gao and Fanli Meng
Chemosensors 2023, 11(5), 264; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors11050264 - 29 Apr 2023
Cited by 14 | Viewed by 1961
Abstract
Xylene gas is highly toxic, can irritate the skin, and is also very harmful to the body. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare sensors that can accurately detect xylene. In this paper, NiTiO3 nanoparticles were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and used [...] Read more.
Xylene gas is highly toxic, can irritate the skin, and is also very harmful to the body. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare sensors that can accurately detect xylene. In this paper, NiTiO3 nanoparticles were synthesized by the hydrothermal method and used to modify NiO, and a NiTiO3-modified NiO (NiTiO3-NiO) nanosheet material was successfully prepared. Its microstructure and internal composition were observed and analyzed by various characterization methods. When detecting 100 ppm xylene gas at the optimum temperature, comparing the response level of the NiTiO3-NiO sensor with that of a pure nickel oxide sensor, the former was 20 times that of the latter, and the sensitivity was greatly improved. In a 100 ppm xylene gas environment, the response level of the sensor reached 21, the minimum detection limit was 1 ppm, and the recovery time was 135.75 s. NiTiO3 is a perovskite-structured material, with many active sites and good catalytic properties that promote redox reactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application and Advance of Gas Sensors)
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12 pages, 4498 KiB  
Article
Study on the Detection Characteristics and Response Mechanism of SnS2-Based Sensors for SO2 and SOF2
by Chengjun Li, Mengyang He, Shuangshuang Tian, Jiawei Yuan, Jincong Wang and Yi Li
Chemosensors 2022, 10(12), 526; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors10120526 - 11 Dec 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1421
Abstract
Based on the wide application of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas in the power industry, the analysis and detection of its decomposition components have become important technical means for state detection and fault evaluation of gas-insulated equipment. The gas-sensitive characteristics and adsorption [...] Read more.
Based on the wide application of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas in the power industry, the analysis and detection of its decomposition components have become important technical means for state detection and fault evaluation of gas-insulated equipment. The gas-sensitive characteristics and adsorption mechanism of the SnS2 sensor for SO2 and SOF2 gases were investigated using SO2 and SOF2, the main SF6 decomposition components, as the target detection gases. SnS2 gas-sensitive materials and components were prepared, and the temperature response, concentration response, response recovery and stability of the SnS2 sensor for the two SF6 decomposition components were tested based on the gas-sensitive test platform. The results demonstrate that the sensor had the best working performance at 200 °C, with obvious response and ideal recovery for both target gases and good stability in a certain time. Based on the first principle, the SnS2 surface structure model and the target gas adsorption model were established, and the adsorption mechanism was analyzed in terms of frontier molecular orbital theory to verify the correctness of the gas-sensitive test results. The gas-sensitive test analysis and simulation calculation can provide data basis and theoretical support for the study of SF6 decomposition components detected by gas sensors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application and Advance of Gas Sensors)
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11 pages, 2875 KiB  
Article
Hydrogen-Sensing Properties of Ultrathin Pt-Co Alloy Films
by Mustafa Erkovan, Caner Deger, Susana Cardoso and Necmettin Kilinc
Chemosensors 2022, 10(12), 512; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors10120512 - 2 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2288
Abstract
The present work aims to investigate the feasibility of utilizing Pt and PtCo alloy ultrathin films as hydrogen gas sensors in order to reduce the cost of the hydrogen gas sensors by using low-cost metallic materials. In this study, ultrathin Pt and PtCo [...] Read more.
The present work aims to investigate the feasibility of utilizing Pt and PtCo alloy ultrathin films as hydrogen gas sensors in order to reduce the cost of the hydrogen gas sensors by using low-cost metallic materials. In this study, ultrathin Pt and PtCo alloy thin films are evaluated for hydrogen sensors. The stoichiometry and structural characterization of the thin films are observed from XPS, SEM, and EDX measurements. The 2-nm-thick Pt and PtCo films deposited by sputtering onto Si/SiO2 covers homogeneously the surface in an fcc crystalline plane (111). The hydrogen gas-sensing properties of the films are assessed from the resistance measurement between 25 °C and 150 °C temperature range, under atmospheres with hydrogen concentration ranging from 10 ppm to 5%. The hydrogen-sensing mechanism of ultrathin PtxCo1-x alloy films can be elucidated with the surface scattering phenomenon. PtCo thin alloy films show better response time than pure Pt thin films, but the alloy films show lower sensor response than pure Pt film’s sensor response. Aside from these experimental investigations, first-principles calculations have also been carried out for bare Pt and Co, and also PtCo alloys. Compared to the theoretical calculations, the sensor response to change decreases with increasing Co content, a result that is compatible with the experimental results. In an attempt to explain the decrease in the sensor response of PtCo alloy films compared to bare Pt film, a variety of different phenomena are discussed, including the shrinking lattice of the structure or dendritic surface structure of PtCo alloy films by the increasing cobalt ratio. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application and Advance of Gas Sensors)
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12 pages, 2857 KiB  
Article
The Role of the Synthesis Routes on the CO-Sensing Mechanism of NiO-Based Gas Sensors
by Adelina Stanoiu, Corneliu Ghica, Catalina Gabriela Mihalcea, Daniela Ghica and Cristian Eugen Simion
Chemosensors 2022, 10(11), 466; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors10110466 - 9 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1774
Abstract
In this study, two alternative synthesis routes have been used in obtaining gas-sensitive NiO materials. The structural and morphological aspects were systematically investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), revealing significant differences further mirrored in their sensing performances. Simultaneous electrical [...] Read more.
In this study, two alternative synthesis routes have been used in obtaining gas-sensitive NiO materials. The structural and morphological aspects were systematically investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), revealing significant differences further mirrored in their sensing performances. Simultaneous electrical resistance and contact potential differences have been involved aiming to decouple the energetic contributions: work function (ΔΦ), surface band bending (qΔVs) and electron affinity (Δχ). Two sensing mechanism scenarios explained the enhancement and downgrading in the sensor response to carbon monoxide (CO) concerning the synthesis strategies. The role of relative humidity (RH) was considered throughout the electrical operando (in-field) investigations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application and Advance of Gas Sensors)
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12 pages, 5866 KiB  
Article
Ru-Doped PtTe2 Monolayer as a Promising Exhaled Breath Sensor for Early Diagnosis of Lung Cancer: A First-Principles Study
by Qianqian Wan, Xiaoqi Chen and Song Xiao
Chemosensors 2022, 10(10), 428; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors10100428 - 17 Oct 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1840
Abstract
Using the first-principles theory, the geometric and electronic properties of the Ru-doped PtTe2 (Ru-PtTe2) monolayer, and its sensing performance for three VOCs biomarkers, namely, 2-propenal (C3H4O), acetone (C3H6O) and isoprene (C5 [...] Read more.
Using the first-principles theory, the geometric and electronic properties of the Ru-doped PtTe2 (Ru-PtTe2) monolayer, and its sensing performance for three VOCs biomarkers, namely, 2-propenal (C3H4O), acetone (C3H6O) and isoprene (C5H8), were analyzed, to expound its potential for exhaled breath analysis and diagnosis of lung cancer. It was found that the Ru-substitution on the surface of the pristine PtTe2 surface with a Te atom is energy-favorable, with the formation energy of −1.22 eV. Upon adsorption of the three VOC gas species, chemisorption was identified with the adsorption energies of −1.72, −1.12 and −1.80 eV for C3H4O, C3H6O and C5H8, respectively. The Ru-doping results in a strong magnetic property for the PtTe2 monolayer, whereas the gas adsorption eliminates this magnetic behavior. The electronic properties reveal the sensing mechanism of the Ru-PtTe2 monolayer for gas detection, and the bandgap change indicates its admirable positive sensing response for the three gas species. Therefore, we conclude that the Ru-PtTe2 monolayer is a promising sensing material to realize the diagnosis of lung cancer through exhaled gas detection, with a remarkable decrease in its electrical conductivity. This work paves the way for further exploration of the PtTe2-based gas sensor for early diagnosis of lung cancer, and we hope that more sensing materials can be investigated using the PtTe2 monolayer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application and Advance of Gas Sensors)
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12 pages, 36619 KiB  
Article
Adsorption and Sensing of CO2, CH4 and N2O Molecules by Ti-Doped HfSe2 Monolayer Based on the First-Principle
by Yingxiang Wang, Benli Liu, Rengcun Fang, Lin Jing, Peng Wu and Shuangshuang Tian
Chemosensors 2022, 10(10), 414; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors10100414 - 12 Oct 2022
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2085
Abstract
With the continuous emission of greenhouse gases, the greenhouse effect is becoming more and more serious. CO2, CH4, and N2O are three typical greenhouse gases, and in order to limit their emissions, it is imperative that they [...] Read more.
With the continuous emission of greenhouse gases, the greenhouse effect is becoming more and more serious. CO2, CH4, and N2O are three typical greenhouse gases, and in order to limit their emissions, it is imperative that they are accurately monitored. In this paper, the doping behavior of Ti on the surface of HfSe2 is investigated, based on the first-nature principle. Additionally, the parameters of adsorption energy and the transfer charges of Ti−HfSe2 for CO2, CH4, and N2O are calculated and compared, while the sensing characteristics of Ti−HfSe2 are analyzed. The results show that the structure is most stable when Ti is located above the lower-layer Se atom. The CO2 and N2O adsorption systems with large adsorption energies and transfer charges are a chemical adsorption, while the CH4 system is a physical adsorption with small adsorption energies and transfer charges. In addition, Ti−HfSe2 has a good sensitivity and recovery time for CO2 at 298 K, which is feasible for industrial application. All the contents of this paper provide theoretical guidance for the implementation of Ti−HfSe2 as a gas-sensitive material for the detection of greenhouse gas components. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application and Advance of Gas Sensors)
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11 pages, 2527 KiB  
Article
Mo2C-Based Microfluidic Gas Sensor Detects SF6 Decomposition Components: A First-Principles Study
by Li Liu, Guozhi Zhang, Zengting Wang, Jiawei Yuan, Senyuan Tan and Yi Li
Chemosensors 2022, 10(9), 368; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors10090368 - 16 Sep 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1883
Abstract
Mo2C is a two-dimensional material with high electrical conductivity, low power consumption, and catalytic effect, which has promising applications in the field of microfluidic gas detection. First principles were used to study the adsorption characteristics of Mo2C monolayer on [...] Read more.
Mo2C is a two-dimensional material with high electrical conductivity, low power consumption, and catalytic effect, which has promising applications in the field of microfluidic gas detection. First principles were used to study the adsorption characteristics of Mo2C monolayer on four typical decomposition gases of SF6 (H2S, SO2, SOF2, and SO2F2), and to explore the feasibility of its application in the detection of SF6 decomposition components. The results showed that Mo2C chemisorbed all four gases, and the adsorption capacity was H2S < SO2 < SOF2 < SO2F2. The adsorption mechanism of Mo2C as a microfluidic sensor was analyzed in combination with its charge-density difference and density of states. On the other hand, the different work-function change trends after adsorbing gases provide the possibility for Mo2C to selectively detect gases as a low-power field-effect transistor sensor. All content can be used as theoretical guidance in the realization of Mo2C as a gas-sensitive material for the detection of SF6 decomposition components. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application and Advance of Gas Sensors)
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10 pages, 1457 KiB  
Article
Ni-Decorated ZnO Monolayer for Sensing CO and HCHO in Dry-Type Transformers: A First-Principles Theory
by Jin Zhang, Yuqing Wang, Zhuo Wei, Qi Wang, Zhengbo Liang and Tian Yuan
Chemosensors 2022, 10(8), 307; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors10080307 - 2 Aug 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1693
Abstract
This work implements first-principles simulations in order to investigate the Ni-decorating property on the ZnO monolayer and the sensing property of the Ni-decorated ZnO (Ni–ZnO) monolayer upon CO and HCHO molecules formed in the dry-type transformers. The results reveal that the Ni dopant [...] Read more.
This work implements first-principles simulations in order to investigate the Ni-decorating property on the ZnO monolayer and the sensing property of the Ni-decorated ZnO (Ni–ZnO) monolayer upon CO and HCHO molecules formed in the dry-type transformers. The results reveal that the Ni dopant is stably anchored on the TO site of the ZnO surface forming the Ni–Zn and Ni–O bonds with the binding energy (Eb) of −1.75 eV. Based on the adsorption energy (Ead) of −1.49 and −2.22 eV for CO and HCHO on the Ni–ZnO monolayer, we determined the chemisorption for two such systems. The band structure (BS) and atomic density of state (DOS) of the gas adsorbed systems are analyzed to comprehend the electronic property of the Ni–ZnO monolayer in the gas adsorptions. Besides, the change of bandgap and work function uncover the sensing potential of Ni–ZnO monolayer upon CO and HCHO detections, with admirable electrical response (15,394.9% and −84.6%). The findings in this work manifest the potential of Ni–ZnO monolayer for CO and HCHO sensing to evaluate the operation condition of the dry-type transformers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application and Advance of Gas Sensors)
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15 pages, 4902 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of ZIF-8 Coating on ZnO Nanorods for Enhanced Gas-Sensing Performance
by Bo Huang, Wen Zeng and Yanqiong Li
Chemosensors 2022, 10(8), 297; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors10080297 - 30 Jul 2022
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2756
Abstract
Firstly, ZnO nanorods were prepared by a relatively simple method, and then self-sacrificed by a water bath heating method to generate a commonly used porous ZIF-8 and firmly attached to the ZnO surface. The successful synthesis of synthetic composites was demonstrated with various [...] Read more.
Firstly, ZnO nanorods were prepared by a relatively simple method, and then self-sacrificed by a water bath heating method to generate a commonly used porous ZIF-8 and firmly attached to the ZnO surface. The successful synthesis of synthetic composites was demonstrated with various detection methods. The gas-sensing results show that the ZIF-8-coated ZnO with a core-shell structure exhibits better response than the raw ZnO because of the increased specific surface area and active sites. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application and Advance of Gas Sensors)
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12 pages, 2922 KiB  
Article
Dissolved Gas Analysis in Transformer Oil Using Ni Catalyst Decorated PtSe2 Monolayer: A DFT Study
by Zengting Wang, Guozhi Zhang, Li Liu, Yunjian Wu, Jincong Wang and Song Xiao
Chemosensors 2022, 10(8), 292; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors10080292 - 25 Jul 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2030
Abstract
In this paper, the first-principles theory is used to explore the adsorption behavior of Ni catalyst decorated PtSe2 (Ni-PtSe2) monolayer toward the dissolved gas in transformer oil, namely CO and C2H2. Some Ni atoms from the [...] Read more.
In this paper, the first-principles theory is used to explore the adsorption behavior of Ni catalyst decorated PtSe2 (Ni-PtSe2) monolayer toward the dissolved gas in transformer oil, namely CO and C2H2. Some Ni atoms from the catalyst are trapped in the Se vacancy on the pure PtSe2 surface. The geometry configurations of Ni-PtSe2 monolayer before and after gas adsorption, the electronic property of Ni-PtSe2 monolayer upon gas adsorption, and the sensibility and recovery property of Ni-PtSe2 monolayer are explored in this theoretical work. Through the simulation, the Ead of CO and C2H2 gas adsorption systems are calculated as −1.583 eV and −1.319 eV, respectively, both identified as chemisorption and implying the stronger performance of the Ni-PtSe2 monolayer on CO molecule, which is further supported by the DOS and BS analysis. According to the formula, the sensitivity of Ni-PtSe2 monolayer towards CO and C2H2 detection can reach up to 96.74% and 99.91% at room temperature (298 K), respectively, which manifests the favorable sensing property of these gases as a chemical resistance-type sensor. Recovery behavior indicates that the Ni-PtSe2 monolayer is a satisfied gas scavenger upon the noxious gas dissolved in transformer oil, but its recovery time at room temperature is not satisfactory. To sum up, we monitor the status of the transformer to guarantee the stable operation of the power system through the Ni-PtSe2 monolayer upon the detection of CO and C2H2, which may realize related applications, and provide the basis and reference to cutting-edge research in the field of electricity in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application and Advance of Gas Sensors)
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