Recent Advances in Electrochemical Sensors for Detecting Toxic Gases: NO₂, SO₂ and H₂S

Rapid visual detection of sulfur dioxide residues in food using acid-sensitive CdTe quantum dots-loaded alginate hydrogel beads

Acid-sensitive CdTe quantum dots-loaded alginate hydrogel (CdTe QDs-AH) beads were designed for the visual detection of SO2 residues. As proof of concept, two types of CdTe QDs were selected as model probes and embedded in AH beads. The entire test was performed within 25 min in a modified double-layer test tube with one bead fixed above the sample solution. Adding citric acid and heating at 70 ℃ for 20 min transformed the sulfites in the solution into SO2 gas, which then quenched the fluorescence of the CdTe QDs-AH beads. Using this assay, qualitative, naked-eye detection of SO2 residues was achieved in the concentration range of 25-300 ppm, as well as precise quantification was possible based on the difference in the average fluorescence brightness of the beads before and after the reaction. Five food types were successfully analysed using this method, which is simpler and more economical than existing methods, and does not require complex pretreatment.

Odours in Asphalt: Analysis of the Release of H2S from Bitumen by a Mass Spectrometric Residual Gas Analyser

During the production and laying phases of hot-mixing asphalt (HMA), various volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and noxious gases such as H2S are released into the atmosphere. These emissions are a serious environmental problem, a risk to human health, and expose workers and residents to unfriendly odours. The aim of this study was the development of a fast and sensitive analytical method to detect the H2S emitted from hot bituminous binder that is generally used in the various stages of asphalt production, processing, handling and during road construction. The method consisted in the analysis of evolved H2S from a flask with molten bitumen, using nitrogen as a carrier gas to lead the volatile compounds into a residual gas analyser equipped with a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The analysis was performed following the H2S-specific signals at m/z 33 (HS+) and at m/z 34 (H2S+) in real time, directly on the sample without laborious and expensive pre-treatments and with short response times (<6 s). Calibration with a standard mixture of 1000 ppm of H2S in nitrogen allows semi-quantitative H2S detection. The sensitivity and rapidity of the method were evaluated by quenching the release of sulphur compounds with commercial odour-suppressing agents. Upon addition of 0.1% of additive in two minutes, the H2S signal drops about 80% in two minutes, confirming the good response of the method, even with a very complex matrix.

Development of an NO2 Gas Sensor Based on Laser-Induced Graphene Operating at Room Temperature

A novel, in situ, low-cost and facile method has been developed to fabricate flexible NO2 sensors capable of operating at ambient temperature, addressing the urgent need for monitoring this toxic gas. This technique involves the synthesis of highly porous structures, as well as the specific development of laser-induced graphene (LIG) and its heterostructures with SnO2, all through laser scribing. The morphology, phases, and compositions of the sensors were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The effects of SnO2 addition on structural and sensor properties were investigated. Gas-sensing measurements were conducted at room temperature with NO2 concentrations ranging from 50 to 10 ppm. LIG and LIG/SnO2 sensors exhibited distinct trends in response to NO2, and the gas-sensing mechanism was elucidated. Overall, this study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing LIG and LIG/SnO2 heterostructures in gas-sensing applications at ambient temperatures, underscoring their broad potential across diverse fields.

Hydrogen Sensing with Palladium-Based Materials: Mechanisms, Challenges, and Opportunities

Palladium morphologies are prominently used in Hydrogen gas sensing applications owing to their unique characteristics and properties. In this review article, Palladium nanoparticles, thin films, and alloys were designated as the scope of Palladium morphologies. The aim of this review article is to explore Hydrogen sensing using Palladium, focusing on the recent advancements in the field.. The principles underlying Hydrogen sensing mechanisms with Palladium are discussed initially, highlighting the unique properties of Palladium that make it a promising material for this purpose. Special attention is given to the surface interactions and structural modifications that influence the sensitivity and selectivity of Palladium-based sensors The study also addresses key challenges and recent innovations in the field which contribute to the enhancement of Palladium-based Hydrogen sensing capabilities. The current state of research is critically examined to identify gaps in knowledge and future research directions are highlighted. The prospects and challenges associated with the use of Palladium for Hydrogen sensing, emphasizing its pivotal role in advancing sensor technologies for Hydrogen detection are also discussed.

The functions of hydrogen sulfide on the urogenital system of both males and females: from inception to the present

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is known as a chemical gas in nature with both enzymatic and non-enzymatic biosynthesis in different human organs. A couple of studies have demonstrated the function of H2S in regulating the homeostasis of the human body. Additionally, they have shown its synthesis, measurement, chemistry, protective effects, and interaction in various aspects of scientific evidence. Furthermore, many researches have demonstrated the beneficial impacts of H2S on genital organs and systems. According to various studies, it is recognized that H2S-producing enzymes and the endogenous production of H2S are expressed in male and female reproductive systems in different mammalian species. The main goal of this comprehensive review is to assess the potential therapeutic impacts of this gasotransmitter in the male and female urogenital system and find underlying mechanisms of this agent. This narrative review investigated the articles that were published from the 1970s to 2022. The review's primary focus is the impacts of H2S on the male and female urogenital system. Medline, CINAHL, PubMed, and Google scholar databases were searched. Keywords used in this review were "Hydrogen sulfide," "H2S," "urogenital system," and "urogenital tract". Numerous studies have demonstrated the therapeutic and protective effects of sodium hydrosulfide (Na-HS) as an H2S donor on male and female infertility disorders. Furthermore, it has been observed that H2S plays a significant role in improving different diseases such as ameliorating sperm parameters. The specific localization of H2S enzymes in the urogenital system provides an excellent opportunity to comprehend its function and role in various disorders related to this system. It is noteworthy that H2S has been demonstrated to be produced in endocrine organs and exhibit diverse activities. Moreover, it is important to recognize that alterations in H2S biosynthesis are closely linked to endocrine disorders. Therefore, hormones can be pivotal in regulating H2S production, and H2S synthesis pathways may aid in establishing novel therapeutic strategies. H2S possesses pharmacological effects on essential disorders, such as anti-inflammation, anti-apoptosis, and anti-oxidant activities, which render it a valuable therapeutic agent for human urogenital disease. Furthermore, this agent shows promise in ameliorating the detrimental effects of various male and female diseases. Despite the limited clinical research, studies have demonstrated that applying H2S as an anti-oxidant source could ameliorate adverse effects of different conditions in the urogenital system. More clinical studies are required to confirm the role of this component in clinical settings.

Rapid Photoacoustic Exhaust Gas Analyzer for Simultaneous Measurement of Nitrogen Dioxide and Sulfur Dioxide

A rapid photoacoustic (PA) exhaust gas analyzer is presented for simultaneous measurements of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2). A laser diode (LD) emitting at 450 nm and a light-emitting diode (LED) with a peak wavelength of 275 nm operated simultaneously, producing PA signals of NO2 and SO2, respectively. The LD and LED were modulated at different frequencies of 2568 and 2570 Hz, and their emission light beams were transmitted through two resonant tubes in a differential PA cell (DPAC), respectively. A self-made dual-channel digital lock-in amplifier was used to realize the simultaneous detection of dual-frequency PA signals. Cross interference between the PA signals at the two different frequencies was reduced to 0.02% by using a lock-in amplifier. In order to achieve a rapid dynamic measurement, gas sampling was accelerated by an air pump. The use of mufflers and the differential PA detection technique significantly reduced the gas sampling noise. When the gas flow rate was 1000 sccm, the response time of the PA dual-gas analyzer was 8 and 17 s for NO2 and SO2, respectively. The minimum detection limits of NO2 and SO2 were 1.7 and 26.1 ppb when the averaging time of the system was 10 s, respectively. Due to the wide spectral bandwidth of the LED, NO2 produced an interference to the detection of SO2. The interference was reduced by the precise detection of NO2. Since the radiations of the LD and LED passed through two different PA tubes, the impact of NO2 photochemical dissociation caused by UV LED luminescence on NO2 gas detection was negligible. The sharing of the PA cell, the gas lines, and the signal processing modules significantly reduced the size and cost of the PA dual-gas analyzer.

Recent Advances on Metal Oxide Based Sensors for Environmental Gas Pollutants Detection

Optimizing materials and associated structures for detecting various environmental gas pollutant concentrations has been a major challenge in environmental sensing technology. Semiconducting metal oxides (SMOs) fabricated at the nanoscale are a class of sensor technology in which metallic species are functionalized with various dopants to modify their chemiresistivity and crystalline scaffolding properties. Studies focused on recent advances of gas sensors utilizing metal oxide nanostructures with a special emphasis on the structure-surface property relationships of some typical n-type and p-type SMOs for efficient gas detection are presented. Strategies to enhance the gas sensor performances are also discussed. These oxide material sensors have several advantages such as ease of handling, portability, and doped-based SMO sensing detection ability of environmental gas pollutants at low temperatures. SMO sensors have displayed excellent sensitivity, selectivity, and robustness. In addition, the hybrid SMO sensors showed exceptional selectivity to some CWAs when irradiated with visible light while also displaying high reversibility and humidity independence. Results showed that TiO2 surfaces can sense 50 ppm SO2 in the presence of UV light and under operating temperatures of 298-473 K. Hybrid SMO displayed excellent gas sensing response. For example, a CuO-ZnO nanoparticle network of a 4:1 vol.% CuO/ZnO ratio exhibited responses three times greater than pure CuO sensors and six times greater than pure ZnO sensors toward H2S. This review provides a critical discussion of modified gas pollutant sensing capabilities of metal oxide nanoparticles under ambient conditions, focusing on reported results during the past two decades on gas pollutants sensing.

Adsorption Behavior of NO and NO2 on Two-Dimensional As, Sb, and Bi Materials: First-Principles Insights

To address the most significant environmental challenges, the quest for high-performance gas sensing materials is crucial. Among numerous two-dimensional materials, this study investigates the gas-sensitive capabilities of monolayer As, Sb, and Bi materials. To compare the gas detection abilities of these three materials, we employ first-principles calculations to comprehensively study the adsorption behavior of NO and NO2 gas molecules on the material surfaces. The results indicate that monolayer Bi material exhibits reasonable adsorption distances, substantial adsorption energies, and significant charge transfer for both NO and NO2 gases. Therefore, among the materials studied, it demonstrates the best gas detection capability. Furthermore, monolayer As and Sb materials exhibit remarkably high capacities for adsorbing NO and NO2 gas molecules, firmly interacting with the gas molecules. Gas adsorption induces changes in the material's work function, suggesting the potential application of these two materials as catalysts.

A first principles study of RbSnCl3 perovskite toward NH3, SO2, and NO gas sensing

The sensitivity of a RbSnCl3 perovskite 2D layer toward NH3, SO2, and NO toxic gases has been studied via DFT analysis. The tri-atomic layer of RbSnCl3 possessed a tetragonal symmetry with a band gap of 1.433 eV. The adsorption energies of RbSnCl3 for NH3, SO2 and NO are -0.09, -0.43, and -0.56 eV respectively with a recovery time ranging from 3.4 × 10-8 to 3.5 ms. RbSnCl3 is highly sensitive toward SO2 and NO compared to NH3. The adsorption of SO2 and NO results in a significant structural deformation and a semiconductor-to-metal transition of RbSnCl3 perovskite. A high absorption coefficient (>103 cm-1), excessive optical conductivity (>1014 s-1), and a very low reflectivity (<3%) make RbSnCl3 a potential candidate for numerous optoelectronic applications. A significant shift in optical responses is observed through SO2 and NO adsorption, which can enable identification of the adsorbed gases. The studied characteristics signify that RbSnCl3 can be a potential candidate for SO2 and NO detection.

Sensitive Materials Used in Surface Acoustic Wave Gas Sensors for Detecting Sulfur-Containing Compounds

There have been many studies on surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors for detecting sulfur-containing toxic or harmful gases. This paper aims to give an overview of the current state of polymer films used in SAW sensors for detecting deleterious gases. By covering most of the important polymer materials, the structures and types of polymers are summarized, and a variety of devices with different frequencies, such as delay lines and array sensors for detecting mustard gas, hydrogen sulfide, and sulfur dioxide, are introduced. The preparation method of polymer films, the sensitivity of the SAW gas sensor, the limit of detection, the influence of temperature and humidity, and the anti-interference ability are discussed in detail. The advantages and disadvantages of the films are analyzed, and the potential application of polymer films in the future is also forecasted.

Influence of Coal-Fired Fly Ash on Measurement Error of NO2 Electrochemical Sensors

To overcome the limitations of NO2 electrochemical sensors, including their inaccurate measurements and short working life, when used around coal-fired power plants, we investigated the influence of coal-fired fly ash deposition on the measurement error of NO2 electrochemical sensors through experimental tests. The morphological characteristics and pellet diameter distribution of coal-fired fly ash pellets were determined via scanning electron microscopy. The sedimentation velocity of coal-fired fly ash pellets in the air was determined through theoretical calculations of aerodynamics and hydrodynamics. Additionally, the effect of the deposition of coal-fired fly ash on the measurement error of NO2 electrochemical sensors was determined through experimental tests. The test results show that the minimum and maximum measurement errors of the NO2 electrochemical gas sensor were 8.015% and 30.35%, respectively, after a deposition duration of 30 days with 30 mg/m3 coal-fired fly ash. This demonstrates that coal-fired fly ash deposition is the cause of the inaccurate measurements and short working life of these sensors. Coal-fired fly ash causes a decrease in the gas diffusion area of the sensor and the diffusion coefficient, thus increasing the sensor measurement error.

Highly Sensitive and Selective Defect WS2 Chemical Sensor for Detecting HCHO Toxic Gases

The gas sensitivity of the W defect in WS2 (VW/WS2) to five toxic gases-HCHO, CH4, CH3HO, CH3OH, and CH3CH3-has been examined in this article. These five gases were adsorbed on the VW/WS2 surface, and the band, density of state (DOS), charge density difference (CDD), work function (W), current-voltage (I-V) characteristic, and sensitivity of adsorption systems were determined. Interestingly, for HCHO-VW/WS2, the energy level contribution of HCHO is closer to the Fermi level, the charge transfer (B) is the largest (0.104 e), the increase in W is more obvious than other adsorption systems, the slope of the I-V characteristic changes more obviously, and the calculated sensitivity is the highest. To sum up, VW/WS2 is more sensitive to HCHO. In conclusion, VW/WS2 has a great deal of promise for producing HCHO chemical sensors due to its high sensitivity and selectivity for HCHO, which can aid in the precise and efficient detection of toxic gases.

High-Precision Photoacoustic Nitrogen Dioxide Gas Analyzer for Fast Dynamic Measurement

A high-precision photoacoustic (PA) gas analyzer for fast dynamic measurement of ambient nitrogen dioxide (NO2) was developed. The PA analyzer used a differential PA cell combined with two mufflers to achieve rapid gas flow gas detection. A high-power laser diode (LD) with a center wavelength of 450 nm was used as the PA signal excitation source. To reduce the saturated absorption effect of NO2, ambient air was pumped into the analyzer at a flow rate of 900 sccm. Two mufflers were combined with the differential PA cell to reduce the noise caused by the airflow and pump. The parameters of the mufflers were optimized by using a finite element method. The experimental results showed that the gas flow noise was suppressed by 95%. The response time of the PAS analyzer was 34 s. The detection limits of the analyzer were 0.64 and 0.17 ppb when the integration times were 1 and 15 s, respectively. A 120 h continuous monitoring result was compared with the data from the National Environmental Monitoring Station to demonstrate the high reliability of the analyzer.

Trends on Aerogel-Based Biosensors for Medical Applications: An Overview

Aerogels are unique solid-state materials composed of interconnected 3D solid networks and a large number of air-filled pores. This structure leads to extended structural characteristics as well as physicochemical properties of the nanoscale building blocks to macroscale, and integrated typical features of aerogels, such as high porosity, large surface area, and low density, with specific properties of the various constituents. Due to their combination of excellent properties, aerogels attract much interest in various applications, ranging from medicine to construction. In recent decades, their potential was exploited in many aerogels' materials, either organic, inorganic or hybrid. Considerable research efforts in recent years have been devoted to the development of aerogel-based biosensors and encouraging accomplishments have been achieved. In this work, recent (2018-2023) and ground-breaking advances in the preparation, classification, and physicochemical properties of aerogels and their sensing applications are presented. Different types of biosensors in which aerogels play a fundamental role are being explored and are collected in this manuscript. Moreover, the current challenges and some perspectives for the development of high-performance aerogel-based biosensors are summarized.

Adsorption and sensing performance of air pollutants on a β-TeO2 monolayer: a first-principles study

Two-dimensional (2D) β-TeO2 is a novel semiconductor with potential applications in electronic circuits due to its air-stability and ultra-high carrier mobility. In this study, we explore the possibility of using a 2D β-TeO2 monolayer for the detection of gaseous pollutants including SO2, NO2, H2S, CO2, CO, and NH3 gas molecules based on first-principles calculations. The adsorption properties including the adsorption energy, adsorption distance and charge transfer indicate that the interaction between 2D β-TeO2 and the six gases is via a physisorption mechanism. Among the six gas adsorption systems, the SO2 adsorption system has the most negative adsorption energy and the largest charge transfer. In addition, the adsorption of SO2 obviously changes the electrical conductivity of the β-TeO2 monolayer because the band gap decreases from 2.727 eV to 1.897 eV after adsorbing SO2. Our results suggest that the 2D β-TeO2 should be an eminently promising SO2 sensing material.

Selectivity of an Ag/BTO-Based Nanocomposite as a Gas Sensor Between NO2 and SO2 Gases

The novel Ag/BTO/TiO2 nanocomposite was assessed for its gas-sensing capabilities toward hazardous gases NO2 and SO2. It exhibited p-type behavior with increasing resistance for SO2 with a response and recovery time of ∼5 and ∼2 s, respectively, switching to n-type behavior when exposed to NO2 with a response and recovery time of ∼20 and ∼250 s, respectively. Analyte gas concentrations from 0 to 220 ppm were taken for analysis. Selectivity analysis at room temperature revealed NO2's superior response of ∼20% above 180 ppm, compared to SO2's < 3% response at 180 ppm. NO2(VC) achieved its highest response (∼45%) at 30 ppm and remained constant above 80 ppm, while SO2(VC) peaked at ∼30% at 60 ppm but declined with increasing flow rates. Further, the increasing temperature led to an amplified response for NO2, whereas SO2 showed an increase in response after 180 °C. SO2(VC) exhibited a significant response of ∼70% from 140 °C onward. Additionally, NO2(VC) showed distinct peaks at 160, 250, and 290 °C with responses of 50, 65, and 80%, respectively. The calculated limit of detection values were 236 ppm for NO2, 644.07 ppm for SO2, 401.32 ppm for NO2(VC), and 496.86 ppm for SO2(VC).

Adsorption of sulfur-containing contaminant gases by pristine, Cr and Mo doped NbS2monolayers based on density functional theory

The adsorption and sensor performance of hazardous gases containing sulfur (SO2, H2S and SO3) on pristine, Cr and Mo doped NbS2monolayers (Cr-NbS2and Mo-NbS2) were investigated in detail based on density functional theory. The comparative analysis of the parameters such as density of states, adsorption energy, charge transfer, recovery time and work function of the systems showed that the pristine NbS2monolayer have poor sensor performance for sulfur-containing hazardous gases due to weak adsorption capacity, insignificant charge transfer and insignificant changes in electronic properties after gas adsorption on the surface. After doping with Cr atoms, the adsorption performance of Cr-NbS2was significantly improved, and it can be used as a sensor for SO2and H2S gases and as an adsorbent for SO3gas. The adsorption performance of Mo-NbS2is also significantly improved by doping with Mo atoms, and it can be used as a sensor for H2S gas and as an adsorbent for SO2and SO3gas. Therefore, Cr-NbS2and Mo-NbS2are revealed to be sensing or elimination materials for the harmful gases containing sulfur (SO2, H2S and SO3) in the atmosphere.

First-principles study on α/β/γ-FeB6 monolayers as potential gas sensor for H2S and SO2

CONTEXT

The adsorptions of toxic gases SO2 and H2S on 2D α/β/γ-FeB6 monolayer were investigated using density functional theory calculations. To analyze the interaction between gas molecule H2S/SO2 and α/β/γ-FeB6 monolayer, we calculated adsorption energy, adsorption distance, Mullikan charge, charge density difference, band structure, the density of states, work function, and theoretical recovery time. The adsorption energies show that H2S/SO2 is chemisorbed on α/β-FeB6 while H2S/SO2 is physiosorbed on γ-FeB6 monolayer. As a result, γ-FeB6 has a short recovery time for H2S (5.71×10-8 s)/SO2 (1.94×10-5 s) due to modest adsorption. Therefore, γ-FeB6 may be a promising candidate for reusable H2S/SO2 sensors at room temperature. Although H2S is chemisorbed on α/β-FeB6, as the working temperature rises to 500 K, the recovery time of α/β-FeB6 for H2S can decrease to 1.13×10-1 s and 2.08×10-1 s, respectively, which are well within the detectable range. So, α/β-FeB6 monolayer also may be a good candidate for H2S gas sensor.

METHODS

Calculations were performed at GGA-PBE/DNP level using the Dmol3 module implemented in the Material Studio 2018 software package.

A mitochondria-targeted chemiluminescent probe for detection of hydrogen sulfide in cancer cells, human serum and in vivo

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) as a critical messenger molecule plays vital roles in regular cell function. However, abnormal levels of H2S, especially mitochondrial H2S, are directly correlated with the formation of pathological states including neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular disorders, and cancer. Thus, monitoring fluxes of mitochondrial H2S concentrations both in vitro and in vivo with high selectivity and sensitivity is crucial. In this direction, herein we developed the first ever example of a mitochondria-targeted and H2S-responsive new generation 1,2-dioxetane-based chemiluminescent probe (MCH). Chemiluminescent probes offer unique advantages compared to conventional fluorophores as they do not require external light irradiation to emit light. MCH exhibited a dramatic turn-on response in its luminescence signal upon reacting with H2S with high selectivity. It was used to detect H2S activity in different biological systems ranging from cancerous cells to human serum and tumor-bearing mice. We anticipate that MCH will pave the way for development of new organelle-targeted chemiluminescence agents towards imaging of different analytes in various biological models.

ZnO-Loaded Graphene for NO2 Gas Sensing

This paper investigates the effect of decorating graphene with zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles (NPs) for the detection of NO₂. In this regard, two graphene sensors with different ZnO loadings of 5 wt.% and 20 wt.% were prepared, and their responses towards NO₂ at room temperature and different conditions were compared. The experimental results demonstrate that the graphene loaded with 5 wt.% ZnO NPs (G95/5) shows better performance at detecting low concentrations of the target gas than the one loaded with 20 wt.% ZnO NPs (G80/20). Moreover, measurements under dry and humid conditions of the G95/5 sensor revealed that the material is very sensitive to ambient moisture, showing an almost eight-fold increase in NO₂ sensitivity when the background changes from dry to 70% relative humidity. Regarding sensor selectivity, it presents a significant selectivity towards NO₂ compared to other gas compounds.

Diffusion-modulated colorimetric sensor for continuous gas detection

Due to their high sensitivity and selectivity, low cost, and good compatibility for sensor array integration, colorimetric gas sensors are widely used in hazardous gas detection, food freshness assessment, and gaseous biomarker identification. However, colorimetric gas sensors are usually designed for one-time discrete measurement because the sensing materials are entirely exposed to analytes during the sensing process. The fast consumption of sensing materials limits colorimetric sensors' applications in continuous analytes monitoring, increases the operation complexity and brings challenges for calibration. In this work, we reported a novel sensor design to prolong the lifetime of colorimetric gas sensors by engineering the gas diffusion process to preserve the sensing materials. We compared two geometries for gas diffusion control in a sensing matrix through simulation and experiment on an ammonia sensing platform. We found that the 2-dimensional gas diffusion geometry enabled a better sensor performance, including more stable and higher sensitivity and a more linear response to ammonia concentration compared to 1-dimensional gas diffusion geometry. We also demonstrated the usability of this diffusion-modulated colorimetric sensor for continuous environmental ammonia monitoring.

Tailoring and functionalizing the graphitic-like GaN and GaP nanostructures as selective sensors for NO, NO2, and NH3 adsorbing: a DFT study

CONTEXT

Langmuir adsorption of gas molecules of NO, NO₂, and NH₃ on the graphitic GaN and GaP sheets has been accomplished using density functional theory. The changes of charge density have shown a more important charge transfer for GaN compared to GaP which acts both as the electron donor while gas molecules act as the stronger electron acceptors through adsorption on the graphitic-like GaN surface. The adsorption of NO and NO₂ molecules introduced spin polarization in the PL-GaN sheet, indicating that it can be employed as a magnetic gas sensor for NO and NO₂ sensing.

METHODS

The partial electron density states based on "PDOS" graphs have explained that the NO and NO₂ states in both of GaN and GaP nanosheets, respectively, have more of the conduction band between - 5 and - 10 eV, while expanded contribution of phosphorus states is close to gallium states, but nitrogen and oxygen states have minor contributions. GaN and GaP nanosheets represent having enough capability for adsorbing gases of NO, NO₂, and NH₃ through charge transfer from nitrogen atom and oxygen atom to the gallium element owing to intra-atomic and interatomic interactions. Ga sites in GaN and GaP nanosheets have higher interaction energy from Van der Waals' forces with gas molecules.

A holistic review on the recent trends, advances, and challenges for high-precision room temperature liquefied petroleum gas sensors

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which is mainly composed of hydrocarbons, such as propane and butane, is a flammable gas that is considered a clean source of energy. Currently, the overwhelming use of LPG as fuel in vehicles, domestic settings, and industry has led to several incidents and deaths globally due to leakage. As a result, the appropriate detection of LPG is vital; thus, gas-sensing devices that can monitor this gas rapidly and accurately at room temperature, are required. This work reviews the current advances in LPG gas sensors, which operate at room temperature. The influences of the synthesis methods and parameters, doping, and use of catalysts on the sensing performance are discussed. The formation of heterostructures made from semiconducting metal oxides, polymers, and graphene-based materials, which enhance the sensor selectivity and sensitivity, is also discussed. The future trends and challenges confronted in the advancement of LPG room temperature operational gas sensors, and critical ideas concerning the future evolution of LPG gas sensors, are deliberated. Additionally, the advancements in the next-generation gas sensors, such as the wireless detection of LPG leakage, self-powered sensors driven by triboelectric/piezoelectric mechanisms, and artificial intelligent systems are also reviewed. This review further focuses on the use of smartphones to circumvent the use of costly instruments and paves the way for cost-efficient and portable monitoring of LPG. Finally, the approach of utilizing the Internet of Things (IoT) to detect/monitor the leakage of LPG has also been discussed, which will provide better alerts to the users and thus minimize the effects of leakages.

Quantifying the dynamic characteristics of indoor air pollution using real-time sensors: Current status and future implication

People generally spend most of their time indoors, making indoor air quality be of great significance to human health. Large spatiotemporal heterogeneity of indoor air pollution can be hardly captured by conventional filter-based monitoring but real-time monitoring. Real-time monitoring is conducive to change air assessment mode from static and sparse analysis to dynamic and massive analysis, and has made remarkable strides in indoor air evaluation. In this review, the state of art, strengths, challenges, and further development of real-time sensors used in indoor air evaluation are focused on. Researches using real-time sensors for indoor air evaluation have increased rapidly since 2018, and are mainly conducted in China and the USA, with the most frequently investigated air pollutants of PM_2.5. In addition to high spatiotemporal resolution, real-time sensors for indoor air evaluation have prominent advantages in 3-dimensional monitoring, pollution peak and source identification, and short-term health effect evaluation. Huge amounts of data from real-time sensors also facilitate the modeling and prediction of indoor air pollution. However, challenges still remain in extensive deployment of real-time sensors indoors, including the selection, performance, stability, as well as calibration of sensors. In future, sensors with high performance, long-term stability, low price, and low energy consumption are welcomed. Furthermore, more target air pollutants are also expected to be detected simultaneously by real-time sensors in indoor air monitoring.

Room-temperature ammonia gas sensing via Au nanoparticle-decorated TiO2 nanosheets

A high-performance gas sensor operating at room temperature is always favourable since it simplifies the device fabrication and lowers the operating power by eliminating a heater. Herein, we fabricated the ammonia (NH₃) gas sensor by using Au nanoparticle-decorated TiO₂ nanosheets, which were synthesized via two distinct processes: (1) preparation of monolayer TiO₂ nanosheets through flux growth and a subsequent chemical exfoliation and (2) decoration of Au nanoparticles on the TiO₂ nanosheets via hydrothermal method. Based on the morphological, compositional, crystallographic, and surface characteristics of this low-dimensional nano-heterostructured material, its temperature- and concentration-dependent NH₃ gas-sensing properties were investigated. A high response of ~ 2.8 was obtained at room temperature under 20 ppm NH₃ gas concentration by decorating Au nanoparticles onto the surface of TiO₂ nanosheets, which generated oxygen defects and induced spillover effect as well.

Sub PPM Detection of NO2 Using Strontium Doped Bismuth Ferrite Nanostructures

The present work investigates the NO₂ sensing properties of acceptor-doped ferrite perovskite nanostructures. The Sr-doped BiFeO₃ nanostructures were synthesized by a salt precursor-based modified pechini method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The synthesized materials were drop coated to fabricate chemoresistive gas sensors, delivering a maximum sensitivity of 5.2 towards 2 ppm NO₂ at 260 °C. The recorded values of response and recovery time are 95 s and 280 s, respectively. The sensor based on Bi_0.8Sr_0.2FeO_3-δ (BSFO) that was operated was shown to have a LOD (limit of detection) as low as 200 ppb. The sensor proved to be promising for repeatability and selectivity measurements, indicating that the Sr doping Bismuth ferrite could be a potentially competitive material for sensing applications. A relevant gas-sensing mechanism is also proposed based on the surface adsorption and reaction behavior of the material.

Electrochemical detection of simple alkanes by utilizing a solid-state zirconia-based gas sensor

Solid-state gas sensors composed of complex oxide electrolytes offer great potential for analyzing various atmospheres at high temperatures. While relatively simple gas mixtures (H2O+N2, O2+N2) have been successfully studied by means of ZrO2-based sensors, the precise detection of more complex compounds represents a challenging task. In this work, we present our findings regarding the analysis of lower alkanes (CH4, C2H6, and C3H8) mixed with nitrogen as an inert gas, utilizing an amperometric ZrO2-based sensor. This sensor, serving as an electrochemical cell with a diffusion barrier, was tested at 500–600 °C to measure the limiting current, which depends on the gas composition and can be further used as a basis for calibration curves. In addition, the diffusion coefficients of the specified gas mixtures were successfully found and compared with references, confirming the applicability of the fabricated sensor for studying diffusion processes in wide concentration and temperature ranges.

NO2 Sensing Capability of Pt-Au-SnO2 Composite Nanoceramics at Room Temperature

Composite ceramics of metal oxides and noble metals have received much attention for sensing reducing gases at room temperature. Presently, composite ceramics of SnO₂ and noble metals have been prepared and investigated for sensing oxidizing NO₂ at room temperature. While dramatic increases in resistance were observed for both 1 wt% Pt-SnO₂ and 5 wt% Au-SnO₂ composite nanoceramics after being exposed to NO₂ at room temperature, the largest increase in resistance was observed for 1 wt% Pt-5 wt% -Au-SnO₂ composite nanoceramics among the three composites. The response to 0.5 ppm NO₂--20% O₂-N₂ was as high as 875 at room temperature, with a response time of 2566 s and a recovery time of 450 s in the air of 50% relative humidity (RH). Further investigation revealed that water molecules in the air are essential for recovering the resistance of Pt-Au-SnO₂ composite nanoceramics. A room temperature NO₂-sensing mechanism has been established, in which NO₂ molecules are catalyzed by Pt-Au to be chemisorbed on SnO₂ at room temperature, and desorbed from SnO₂ by the attraction of water molecules in the air. These results suggest that composite ceramics of metal oxides and noble metals should be promising for room temperature sensing, not only reducing gases, but also oxidizing gases.

Recent advances in fluorescence chemosensors for ammonia sensing in the solution and vapor phases

Developing low-cost and reliable sensor systems for the detection of trace amounts of toxic gases is an important area of research. Ammonia (NH₃) is a commonly produced industrial chemical and a harmful colorless pungent gas released from various manufacturing and processing industries. Continuous exposure to NH₃ vapor causes serious menace to human health, microorganisms, and the ecosystem. Exposure to relatively higher concentrations of NH₃ severely affects the respiratory system and leads to kidney failure, nasal erosion ulcers, and gastrointestinal diseases. Excessive accumulation of NH₃ in the biosphere can cause various metabolic disruptions. As a consequence of this, therefore, suitable sensing methods for selective detection and quantification of trace amounts of NH₃ are of utmost need to protect the environment and living systems. Given this, there have been significant research advances in the preceding years on the development of fluorescence chemosensors for efficient sensing and monitoring of the trace concentration of NH₃ both in solution and vapor phases. This review article highlights several fluorescence chemosensors reported until recently for sensing and quantifying NH₃ in the vapor phase or ammonium ions (NH₄⁺) in the solution phase. The wide variety of fluorescence chemosensors discussed in this article are systematically gathered according to their structures, functional properties, and fluorescence sensing properties. Finally, the usefulness and existing challenges of using the fluorescence-based sensing method for NH₃ detection and the future perspective on this research area have also been highlighted.

Development of a push-π-pull phenothiazine-vinyl-isophorone fluorophore: a novel solvatochromic and pH indicator

Knoevenagel condensation of phenothiazine-3,7-dicarbaldehyde with an isophorone yielded a new phenothiazine derivative (PTZ-c) fluorophore. The solvatochromic and pH-sensing abilities of PTZ-c, an asymmetric fluorophore with a single isophorone molecule, were shown to be exceptional. PTZ-c produced very delicate absorbance and emission spectra. When the polarity of the solvent was increased, the PTZ-c emission spectra showed greater sensitivity than the absorption spectra. Multiple spectroscopic techniques, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, and mass spectrometry, were used to characterize the manufactured PTZ-c sensor. To demonstrate the beneficial solvatochromic behaviour associated with intramolecular charge transfer, the absorption spectra of the synthesized DA PTZ-c dye were analyzed in different solvents of varying polarity. Band intensity and the wavelength of PTZ-c emission were also found to be highly solvent dependent. It was observed that when solvent polarity was increased to a maximum of 4122 cm^-1 , Stokes' shift also increased. To analyze the Stokes' shift that depended on the solvent, a linear correlation between solvation and energy was used. An investigation of PTZ-c quantum yield (ф) was also conducted. Both the absorbance and fluorescence spectra of the sensor in dimethylformamide as a function of pH were studied. A fluorescence peak was seen at 562 nm, whereas the greatest absorption wavelengths were found at 403 and 317 nm. It was shown that the pH-sensing mechanism depended on protons removed from the PTZ-c chromophore, which caused a colour shift and variation in both emission and colorimetric properties.

Review of Internet of Things-Based Artificial Intelligence Analysis Method through Real-Time Indoor Air Quality and Health Effect Monitoring: Focusing on Indoor Air Pollution That Are Harmful to the Respiratory Organ

Everyone is aware that air and environmental pollutants are harmful to health. Among them, indoor air quality directly affects physical health, such as respiratory rather than outdoor air. However, studies that have examined the correlation between environmental and health information have been conducted with public data targeting large cohorts, and studies with real-time data analysis are insufficient. Therefore, this research explores the research with an indoor air quality monitoring (AQM) system based on developing environmental detection sensors and the internet of things to collect, monitor, and analyze environmental and health data from various data sources in real-time. It explores the usage of wearable devices for health monitoring systems. In addition, the availability of big data and artificial intelligence analysis and prediction has increased, investigating algorithmic studies for accurate prediction of hazardous environments and health impacts. Regarding health effects, techniques to prevent respiratory and related diseases were reviewed.

Highly Sensitive Sub-ppm CH3COOH Detection by Improved Assembly of Sn3O4-RGO Nanocomposite

Detection of sub-ppm acetic acid (CH₃COOH) is in demand for environmental gas monitoring. In this article, we propose a CH₃COOH gas sensor based on Sn₃O₄ and reduced graphene oxide (RGO), where the assembly of Sn₃O₄-RGO nanocomposites is dependent on the synthesis method. Three nanocomposites prepared by three different synthesis methods are investigated. The optimum assembly is by hydrothermal reactions of Sn⁴⁺ salts and pre-reduced RGO (designated as RS nanocomposite). Raman spectra verified the fingerprint of RGO in the synthesized RS nanocomposite. The Sn₃O₄ planes of (111), (210), (130), (13¯2) are observed from the X-ray diffractogram, and its average crystallite size is 3.94 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy on Sn3d and O1s spectra confirm the stoichiometry of Sn₃O₄ with Sn:O ratio = 0.76. Sn₃O₄-RGO-RS exhibits the highest response of 74% and 4% at 2 and 0.3 ppm, respectively. The sensitivity within sub-ppm CH₃COOH is 64%/ppm. Its superior sensing performance is owing to the embedded and uniformly wrapped Sn₃O₄ nanoparticles on RGO sheets. This allows a massive relative change in electron concentration at the Sn₃O₄-RGO heterojunction during the on/off exposure of CH₃COOH. Additionally, the operation is performed at room temperature, possesses good repeatability, and consumes only ~4 µW, and is a step closer to the development of a commercial CH₃COOH sensor.

Real-Time Monitoring of Breath Biomarkers with A Magnetoelastic Contactless Gas Sensor: A Proof of Concept

In the quest for effective gas sensors for breath analysis, magnetoelastic resonance-based gas sensors (MEGSs) are remarkable candidates. Thanks to their intrinsic contactless operation, they can be used as non-invasive and portable devices. However, traditional monitoring techniques are bound to slow detection, which hinders their application to fast bio-related reactions. Here we present a method for real-time monitoring of the resonance frequency, with a proof of concept for real-time monitoring of gaseous biomarkers based on resonance frequency. This method was validated with a MEGS based on a Metglass 2826 MB microribbon with a polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofiber electrospun functionalization. The device provided a low-noise (RMS = 1.7 Hz), fast (<2 min), and highly reproducible response to humidity (Δf = 46−182 Hz for 17−95% RH), ammonia (Δf = 112 Hz for 40 ppm), and acetone (Δf = 44 Hz for 40 ppm). These analytes are highly important in biomedical applications, particularly ammonia and acetone, which are biomarkers related to diseases such as diabetes. Furthermore, the capability of distinguishing between breath and regular air was demonstrated with real breath measurements. The sensor also exhibited strong resistance to benzene, a common gaseous interferent in breath analysis.

Biogas impurities: environmental and health implications, removal technologies and future perspectives

Biogas is a promising bioenergy alternative to be recovered from waste/wastewater in the context of environmental sustainability and circular economy. However, raw biogas contains various secondary impurities such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulphide, siloxanes, nitrogen oxides (NOx), ammonia, and halogens. Depending on the emission rate of these biogas impurities, the importance of biogas is being hampered for its environmental, health and the detrimental effects possess by the impurities towards the downstream of the biogas users. Biogas impurities can cause different public health concerns (like pulmonary paralysis, asthma, respiratory diseases and deaths) and environmental impacts (such as global warming, climate change and their indirect impacts like drought, flooding, malnutrition and other disasters). The absence/inconsistent emission standards among countries, agencies, and other stakeholders is the other challenge that they possess during monitoring and controlling of these impurities. Different commercially available and emerging technologies are available for separating carbon dioxide (via biogas upgrading) and removing other biogas impurities. Technologies such as pressure swing adsorption, membrane separation, absorption-based techniques (water, chemical and physical organic solvents), cryogenic separation, and other emerging biotechnological platforms (like photobioreactor and biocatalysis) have been adopted in removing the impurities. This paper reviewed the main commercially available and new technologies and their performance in removing carbon dioxide (the main constituent of biogas) and other biogas impurities. Besides, the environmental and public health implications of biogas and future research perspectives are also highlighted.

Cr-MOF-Based Electrochemical Sensor for the Detection of P-Nitrophenol

Cr-MOF nanoparticles were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method, and their morphology and structure were characterized by SEM, TEM, and XRD techniques. The Cr-MOF modified glassy carbon electrode (Cr-MOF/GCE) was well constructed and served as an efficient electrochemical sensor for the detection of p-nitrophenol (p-NP). It was found that the Cr-MOF nanoparticles had significant electrocatalytic activity toward the reduction of p-NP. The Cr-MOF-based electrochemical sensor exhibited a low detection limit of 0.7 μM for p-NP in a wide range of 2~500 μM and could maintain excellent detection stability in a series of interfering media. The electrochemical sensor was also practically applied to detect p-NP in a local river and confirmed its validity, showing potential application prospects.

Femtosecond Laser-Assisted Device Engineering: Toward Organic Field-Effect Transistor-Based High-Performance Gas Sensors

Organic electronic-based gas sensors hold great potential for portable healthcare- and environment-monitoring applications. It has recently been shown that introducing a porous structure into an organic semiconductor (OSC) film is an efficient way to improve the gas-sensing performance because it facilitates the interaction between the gaseous analyte and the active layer. Although several methods have been used to generate porous structures, the development of a robust approach that can facilely engineer the porous OSC film with a uniform pore pattern remains a challenge. Here, we demonstrate a robust approach to fabricate porous OSC films by using a femtosecond laser-processed porous dielectric layer template. With this laser-assisted strategy, various polymeric OSC layers with controllable pore size and well-defined pore patterns were achieved. The consequent porous p-type polymer-based device exhibits enhanced sensitivity to the ammonia analyte in the range from 100 ppb to 10 ppm with remarkable reproducibility and selectivity. The micropattern of the active layer was precisely controlled by generating various pore densities in the predecorated templates, which results in modulated ammonia sensitivities ranging from 30 to 65% ppm^-1. Furthermore, we show that this approach can be used to fabricate flexible gas sensors with enhanced sensing performance and mechanical durability, which indicate that this femtosecond laser-assisted approach is very promising for the fabrication of next-generation wearable electronics.

Terahertz-Wave Absorption Gas Sensing for Dimethyl Sulfoxide

Gas sensing for dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) based on rotational absorption spectroscopy is demonstrated in the 220–330 GHz frequency range using a robust electronic THz-wave spectrometer. DMSO is a flammable liquid commonly used as a solvent in the food and pharmaceutical industries, materials synthesis, and manufacturing. DMSO is a hazard to human health and the work environment; hence, remote gas sensing for DMSO environmental and process monitoring is desired. Absorption measurements were carried out for pure DMSO at 297 K and 0.4 Torr (53 Pa). DMSO was shown to have a unique rotational fingerprint with a series of repeating absorption bands. The frequencies of transitions observed in the present study were found to be in good agreement with spectral simulations carried out based on rotational parameters derived in prior work. Newly, intensities of the rotational absorption lines were experimentally observed and reported for DMSO in this study. Measured intensities for major absorption lines were found in very good agreement with relative line intensities estimated by quantum mechanical calculations. The sensor developed here exhibited a detection limit of 1.3 × 1015–2.6 × 1015 DMSO molecules/cm3 per meter of absorption path length, with the potential for greater sensitivity with signal-to-noise improvements. The study illustrates the potential of all electronic THz-wave systems for miniaturized remote gas sensors.

Nanometer-Thick ZnO/SnO2 Heterostructures Grown on Alumina for H2S Sensing

Designing heterostructure materials at the nanoscale is a well-known method to enhance gas sensing performance. In this study, a mixed solution of zinc chloride and tin (II) chloride dihydrate, dissolved in ethanol solvent, was used as the initial precursor for depositing the sensing layer on alumina substrates using the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) method. Several ZnO/SnO₂ heterostructures were grown by applying different ratios in the initial precursors. These heterostructures were used as active materials for the sensing of H₂S gas molecules. The results revealed that an increase in the zinc chloride in the USP precursor alters the H₂S sensitivity of the sensor. The optimal working temperature was found to be 450 °C. The sensor, containing 5:1 (ZnCl₂: SnCl₂·2H₂O) ratio in the USP precursor, demonstrates a higher response than the pure SnO₂ (∼95 times) sample and other heterostructures. Later, the selectivity of the ZnO/SnO₂ heterostructures toward 5 ppm NO₂, 200 ppm methanol, and 100 ppm of CH₄, acetone, and ethanol was also examined. The gas sensing mechanism of the ZnO/SnO₂ was analyzed and the remarkably enhanced gas-sensing performance was mainly attributed to the heterostructure formation between ZnO and SnO₂. The synthesized materials were also analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectra to investigate the material distribution, grain size, and material quality of ZnO/SnO₂ heterostructures.

Technologies for Deep Biogas Purification and Use in Zero-Emission Fuel Cells Systems

A proper exploitation of biogas is key to recovering energy from biowaste in the framework of a circular economy and environmental sustainability of the energy sector. The main obstacle to widespread and efficient utilization of biogas is posed by some trace compounds (mainly sulfides and siloxanes), which can have a detrimental effect on downstream gas users (e.g., combustion engines, fuel cells, upgrading, and grid injection). Several purification technologies have been designed throughout the years. The following work reviews the main commercially available technologies along with the new concepts of cryogenic separation. This analysis aims to define a summary of the main technological aspects of the clean-up and upgrading technologies. Therefore, the work highlights which benefits and criticalities can emerge according to the intended final biogas application, and how they can be mitigated according to boundary conditions specific to the plant site (e.g., freshwater availability in WWTPs or energy recovery).

Nanoplasmonic NO2 Sensor with a Sub-10 Parts per Billion Limit of Detection in Urban Air

Urban air pollution is a critical health problem in cities all around the world. Therefore, spatially highly resolved real-time monitoring of airborne pollutants, in general, and of nitrogen dioxide, NO₂, in particular, is of utmost importance. However, highly accurate but fixed and bulky measurement stations or satellites are used for this purpose to date. This defines a need for miniaturized NO₂ sensor solutions with detection limits in the low parts per billion range to finally enable indicative air quality monitoring at low cost that facilitates detection of highly local emission peaks and enables the implementation of direct local actions like traffic control, to immediately reduce local emissions. To address this challenge, we present a nanoplasmonic NO₂ sensor based on arrays of Au nanoparticles coated with a thin layer of polycrystalline WO₃, which displays a spectral redshift in the localized surface plasmon resonance in response to NO₂. Sensor performance is characterized under (i) idealized laboratory conditions, (ii) conditions simulating humid urban air, and (iii) an outdoor field test in a miniaturized device benchmarked against a commercial NO₂ sensor approved according to European and American standards. The limit of detection of the plasmonic solution is below 10 ppb in all conditions. The observed plasmonic response is attributed to a combination of charge transfer between the WO₃ layer and the plasmonic Au nanoparticles, WO₃ layer volume expansion, and changes in WO₃ permittivity. The obtained results highlight the viability of nanoplasmonic gas sensors, in general, and their potential for practical application in indicative urban air monitoring, in particular.

Disordered-nanoparticle-based etalon for ultrafast humidity-responsive colorimetric sensors and anti-counterfeiting displays

The development of real-time and sensitive humidity sensors is in great demand from smart home automation and modern public health. We hereby proposed an ultrafast and full-color colorimetric humidity sensor that consists of chitosan hydrogel sandwiched by a disordered metal nanoparticle layer and reflecting substrate. This hydrogel-based resonator changes its resonant frequency to external humidity conditions because the chitosan hydrogels are swollen under wet state and contracted under dry state. The response time of the sensor is ~10⁴ faster than that of the conventional Fabry-Pérot design. The origins of fast gas permeation are membrane pores created by gaps between the metal nanoparticles. Such instantaneous and tunable response of a new hydrogel resonator is then exploited for colorimetric sensors, anti-counterfeiting applications, and high-resolution displays.

Review on Detection Methods of Nitrogen Species in Air, Soil and Water

Nitrogen species present in the atmosphere, soil, and water play a vital role in ecosystem stability. Reactive nitrogen gases are key air quality indicators and are responsible for atmospheric ozone layer depletion. Soil nitrogen species are one of the primary macronutrients for plant growth. Species of nitrogen in water are essential indicators of water quality, and they play an important role in aquatic environment monitoring. Anthropogenic activities have highly impacted the natural balance of the nitrogen species. Therefore, it is critical to monitor nitrogen concentrations in different environments continuously. Various methods have been explored to measure the concentration of nitrogen species in the air, soil, and water. Here, we review the recent advancements in optical and electrochemical sensing methods for measuring nitrogen concentration in the air, soil, and water. We have discussed the advantages and disadvantages of the existing methods and the future prospects. This will serve as a reference for researchers working with environment pollution and precision agriculture.

The Prototype Monitoring System for Pollution Sensing and Online Visualization with the Use of a UAV and a WebRTC-Based Platform

Nowadays, we observe a great interest in air pollution, including exhaust fumes. This interest is manifested in both the development of technologies enabling the limiting of the emission of harmful gases and the development of measures to detect excessive emissions. The latter includes IoT systems, the spread of which has become possible thanks to the use of low-cost sensors. This paper presents the development and field testing of a prototype pollution monitoring system, allowing for both online and off-line analyses of environmental parameters. The system was built on a UAV and WebRTC-based platform, which was the subject of our previous paper. The platform was retrofitted with a set of low-cost environmental sensors, including a gas sensor able to measure the concentration of exhaust fumes. Data coming from sensors, video metadata captured from 4K camera, and spatiotemporal metadata are put in one situational context, which is transmitted to the ground. Data and metadata are received by the ground station, processed (if needed), and visualized on a dashboard retrieving situational context. Field studies carried out in a parking lot show that our system provides the monitoring operator with sufficient situational awareness to easily detect exhaust emissions online, and delivers enough information to enable easy detection during offline analyses as well.