Electro-Optical Gas Sensor Consisting of Nanostructured Paper Coating and an Ultrathin Sensing Element

Abstract

This work describes the use of a paper substrate for electro-optical detection of toxic hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas. For electrical detection, a chemiresistive type of gas sensor was developed. Ultrathin gold film electrodes (UTGFE) were produced by physical vapor deposition of gold on nanostructured latex-coated paper substrate. The gas-sensing film was deposited on the electrodes by inkjet printing. The sensing films were characterized by atomic force microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and conductometry. The sensing films showed more than seven orders of magnitude change in resistance when exposed to as low as 1 part per million (ppm) H2S gas at room temperature. Besides resistive response, the change in color of the sensing films was studied on a paper substrate, both as a function of print density of the sensing material and H2S concentration. For quantification of the analyte the red, green and blue color deconvolution was performed on the pictures of the paper strip indicator using an open source software. A clear response was obtained from the blue channel. The inexpensive disposable color strips produced on the paper substrate can be used for qualitative and quantitative detection (as low as 1.5 ppm) of H2S gas.

Review of Chemical Sensors for Hydrogen Sulfide Detection in Organisms and Living Cells

“…The device was inexpensive, portable, and requires only a small number of samples (5 μL). In 2019, Sarfraz et al [ 42 ] designed an inexpensive disposable H 2 S sensor on paper substrate with the diagram shown in the Figure 8 .…”

Thin Film-Based Sensors

“…From the main results and conclusions associated with the contributed papers with respect to gas sensors it should be emphasized that Sarfraz et al [1] used, a low-cost, flexible and environmentfriendly material: a paper support coated with nanostructured latex. The paper support was covered with gold electrodes together with a film of copper acetate.…”

Preparation and Optimization of Mesoporous SnO2 Quantum Dot Thin Film Gas Sensors for H2S Detection Using XGBoost Parameter Importance Analysis

“…Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) is a highly versatile reagent extensively utilized in various fields such as the manufacture of fluorescent powders [1], electroluminescence [2], optical conductors [3], synthesis of organic reducing agents [4], metal refining [5], pesticides, medicine [6], and catalyst regeneration [7]. It is a colorless, highly toxic and acidic gas, with a severe nuisance odor and an olfactory threshold of 0.41 ppb [8]. The exposure to low concentrations of H 2 S, even at ppb level, can lead to numerous health issues like chronic inflammation of the eyes and respiratory tract, corneal ulceration or punctate keratitis, peripheral neuropathy, central autonomic dysfunction, or damage to peripheral nerves [9].…”