Optical CO₂ gas sensor based on liquid crystals in a textile grid

Abstract

Given the increasing concerns about global warming, it is undeniable that measuring and controlling carbon dioxide (CO2) levels, a colorless and odorless greenhouse gas, is of great value. In this respect, liquid crystals (LCs) as an anisotropic material hold promise for fabricating such gas sensors. Here, we report a sensitive optical gas sensor for real-time monitoring of CO2 gas, exploiting a textile grid impregnated with LC and diethanolamine (DEA) as a CO2-sensitive material. The sensing mechanism relies on the reorientation of LC molecules upon the interaction of gas analytes with DEA. By tracing optical texture changes and extracting the corresponding intensities, CO2 gas concentrations ranging from 300 to 10,000 ppm were detected. The sensor exhibits a response time of 12 seconds and a recovery time of 7 seconds at 800 ppm. The sensor is simple and cost-effective.