Nanostructured Semiconducting Metal Oxide Gas Sensors for Acetaldehyde Detection

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are among the most abundant air pollutants. Their high concentrations can adversely affect the human body, and therefore, early detection of VOCs is of outmost importance. Among the different VOCs, in this review paper we have focused our attention to the monitoring of acetaldehyde by chemiresistive gas sensors fabricated from nanostructured semiconducting metal oxides. These sensors can not only provide a high sensing signal for detection of acetaldehyde but also high thermal and mechanical stability along with a low price. This review paper is divided into three major sections. First, we will introduce acetaldehyde as an important VOC and the importance of its detection. Then, the fundamentals of chemiresistive gas sensors will be briefly presented, and in the last section, a survey of the literature on acetaldehyde gas sensors will be presented. The working mechanism of acetaldehyde sensors, their structures, and configurations are reviewed. Finally, the future development outlook and potential applications are discussed, giving a complete panoramic view for researchers working and interested in acetaldehyde detection for different purposes in many fundamental and applicative fields.

Electrospun Metal Oxide Nanofibers and Their Conductometric Gas Sensor Application. Part 2: Gas Sensors and Their Advantages and Limitations

“…However, it must be admitted that sensors manufactured using traditional technology, with appropriate optimization of the structure and composition of the gas-sensitive layer, can have the same parameters and, in some cases, even exceed the parameters reported for the best samples of nanofiber-based gas sensors [197,251,297,[374][375][376]. This means that no breakthrough has been achieved in the development of gas sensors based on the use of electrospinning technology, which could manifest itself in a radical improvement in the parameters of devices in comparison with conventional technology.…”

Humidity Sensor Based on PEO/PEDOT:PSS Blends for Breath Monitoring

“…[22] This simple transduction mechanism permits the fabrication of devices with diverse configurations such as planar-type, flexible, micromachined, etc. [23] Various classes of materials have been used in chemiresistive gas/humidity sensors, including metal oxides, [24] polymers, [25] ceramics, [26] carbon derivatives, [27] and composites. [28,29] Among them, polymers have attracted interest due to their low cost, the possibility of having different structures, and tunable properties to improve their device performances.…”

A Bio-Fluorometric Acetone Gas Imaging System for the Dynamic Analysis of Lipid Metabolism in Human Breath

“…Representative VOCs in exhaled breath have been identified as possible diagnostic markers for various diseases. For example, acetone, ammonia, isoprene, 2-propanol, cyclohexanone, hydrogen sulfide, nitric oxide, ethane, carbon monoxide, acetaldehyde, and formaldehyde have been associated with disease [3,[34][35][36][37][38][39]. High-sensitivity analysis or measurement of these volatile biological components are employed for medical diagnostics and disease screening.…”