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Micro- and nano-sensors lie at the heart of critical innovation in fields ranging from medical to environmental sciences. In recent years, there has been a significant improvement in sensor design along with the advances in micro- and nano-fabrication technology and the use of newly designed materials, leading to the development of high-performance gas sensors. Advanced micro- and nano-fabrication technology enables miniaturization of these sensors into micro-sized gas sensor arrays while maintaining the sensing performance. These capabilities facilitate the development of miniaturized integrated gas sensor arrays that enhance both sensor sensitivity and selectivity towards various analytes. In the past, several micro- and nano-gas sensors have been proposed and investigated where each type of sensor exhibits various advantages and limitations in sensing resolution, operating power, response, and recovery time. This paper presents an overview of the recent progress made in a wide range of gas-sensing technology. The sensing functionalizing materials, the advanced micro-machining fabrication methods, as well as their constraints on the sensor design, are discussed. The sensors’ working mechanisms and their structures and configurations are reviewed. Finally, the future development outlook and the potential applications made feasible by each category of the sensors are discussed.

Highlights Recent developments of advanced electronic and optoelectronic gas sensors are introduced. Sensor array with artificial intelligence algorithms and smart gas sensors in “Internet of Things” paradigm are highlighted. Applications of smart gas sensors in environmental monitoring, medical and healthcare applications, food quality control, and public safety are described. Gas sensor is an indispensable part of modern society with wide applications in environmental monitoring, healthcare, food industry, public safety, etc. With the development of sensor technology, wireless communication, smart monitoring terminal, cloud storage/computing technology, and artificial intelligence, smart gas sensors represent the future of gas sensing due to their merits of real-time multifunctional monitoring, early warning function, and intelligent and automated feature. Various electronic and optoelectronic gas sensors have been developed for high-performance smart gas analysis. With the development of smart terminals and the maturity of integrated technology, flexible and wearable gas sensors play an increasing role in gas analysis. This review highlights recent advances of smart gas sensors in diverse applications. The structural components and fundamental principles of electronic and optoelectronic gas sensors are described, and flexible and wearable gas sensor devices are highlighted. Moreover, sensor array with artificial intelligence algorithms and smart gas sensors in “Internet of Things” paradigm are introduced. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of smart gas sensors are discussed regarding the future need of gas sensors for smart city and healthy living.

The telecommunication wavelengths are crucial for developing a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). The absorption fingerprints of many gases lie within these spectral ranges, offering the potential to create a miniaturized gas sensor for PIC. This work presents novel double Fano resonances within the telecommunication band, based on silicon metasurfaces for selective gas sensing applications. Our proposed design comprises periodically coupled nanodisk and nanobar resonators mounted on a quartz substrate. Fano resonances can be engineered across the range from λ = 1.52 μm to λ = 1.7 μm by adjusting various geometrical parameters. A double detection sensor of carbon monoxide (CO) at λ = 1.566 μm and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) at λ = 1.674 μm is developed. The sensor exhibits exceptional refractometric sensitivity to CO of 1,735 nm/RIU with an outstanding FOM of 11,570 at the first Fano resonance (FR1). In addition, the sensor shows a sensitivity to N 2 O of 194 nm/RIU accompanied by an FOM of 510 at the second Fano resonance (FR2). The structure reveals absorption losses of 6.3% for CO at the FR1, indicating the sensor selectivity to CO. The sensor is less selective at FR2 and limited to spectral shifts induced by each gas type. Our proposed design holds significant promise for the development of a highly sensitive double-sensing refractometric photonic integrated gas sensor.

In recent years, the energy crisis has made the world realize the importance and need for green energy. Hydrogen safety has always been a primary issue that needs to be addressed for the application and large-scale commercialization of hydrogen energy, and precise and rapid hydrogen gas sensing technology and equipment are important prerequisites for ensuring hydrogen safety. Based on metal oxide semiconductors (MOS), resistive hydrogen gas sensors (HGS) offer advantages, such as low cost, low power consumption, and high sensitivity. They are also easy to test, integrate, and suitable for detecting low concentrations of hydrogen gas in ambient air. Therefore, they are considered one of the most promising HGS. This article provides a comprehensive review of the surface reaction mechanisms and recent research progress in optimizing the gas sensing performance of MOS-based resistive hydrogen gas sensors (MOS-R-HGS). Particularly, the advancements in metal-assisted or doped MOS, mixed metal oxide (MO)-MOS composites, MOS-carbon composites, and metal-organic framework-derived (MOF)-MOS composites are extensively summarized. Finally, the future research directions and possibilities in this field are discussed.

HighlightsThe types, working principles, advantages and limitations of pattern recognition methods based on chemiresistive gas sensor array are reviewed and discussed comprehensively.Outstanding and novel advancements in the application of machine learning methods for gas recognition in different important areas are compared, summarized and evaluated.The current challenges and future prospects of machine learning methods in artificial olfactory systems are discussed and justified.As information acquisition terminals for artificial olfaction, chemiresistive gas sensors are often troubled by their cross-sensitivity, and reducing their cross-response to ambient gases has always been a difficult and important point in the gas sensing area. Pattern recognition based on sensor array is the most conspicuous way to overcome the cross-sensitivity of gas sensors. It is crucial to choose an appropriate pattern recognition method for enhancing data analysis, reducing errors and improving system reliability, obtaining better classification or gas concentration prediction results. In this review, we analyze the sensing mechanism of cross-sensitivity for chemiresistive gas sensors. We further examine the types, working principles, characteristics, and applicable gas detection range of pattern recognition algorithms utilized in gas-sensing arrays. Additionally, we report, summarize, and evaluate the outstanding and novel advancements in pattern recognition methods for gas identification. At the same time, this work showcases the recent advancements in utilizing these methods for gas identification, particularly within three crucial domains: ensuring food safety, monitoring the environment, and aiding in medical diagnosis. In conclusion, this study anticipates future research prospects by considering the existing landscape and challenges. It is hoped that this work will make a positive contribution towards mitigating cross-sensitivity in gas-sensitive devices and offer valuable insights for algorithm selection in gas recognition applications.

The demand for LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) detection constitutes a major and critical problem in the field of gas detection. LPG is used for domestic appliances used in the heating of buildings, producing petrochemicals and as a motor fuel. The current paper used the fabricated ZnO, in addition to TGS 813, TGS 2600, TGS 4160, TGS 3870, TGS 822 as semiconductor gas sensors, in varying temperature and load resistance in a prototype setup so as to explore each model’s accuracy for performance prediction for gas detection. The fabricated ZnO gas sensor is used also to detect the LPG. The comparison is done between gas sensors array and the fabricated one from ZnO. The actual results are put in comparison with the empirical algorithms’ predictions. The optimal model is found to be the full quadratic empirical model based on the lowest error with different sensors.

HighlightsRecent progress in noble metal-decorated (NM-D) semiconducting metal oxides (SMOs) gas sensors are summarized.Gas sensing mechanisms related to noble metal decoration are carefully discussed.Crucial challenges facing the development of NM-D SMOs gas sensors are analyzed.Highly sensitive gas sensors with remarkably low detection limits are attractive for diverse practical application fields including real-time environmental monitoring, exhaled breath diagnosis, and food freshness analysis. Among various chemiresistive sensing materials, noble metal-decorated semiconducting metal oxides (SMOs) have currently aroused extensive attention by virtue of the unique electronic and catalytic properties of noble metals. This review highlights the research progress on the designs and applications of different noble metal-decorated SMOs with diverse nanostructures (e.g., nanoparticles, nanowires, nanorods, nanosheets, nanoflowers, and microspheres) for high-performance gas sensors with higher response, faster response/recovery speed, lower operating temperature, and ultra-low detection limits. The key topics include Pt, Pd, Au, other noble metals (e.g., Ag, Ru, and Rh.), and bimetals-decorated SMOs containing ZnO, SnO2, WO3, other SMOs (e.g., In2O3, Fe2O3, and CuO), and heterostructured SMOs. In addition to conventional devices, the innovative applications like photo-assisted room temperature gas sensors and mechanically flexible smart wearable devices are also discussed. Moreover, the relevant mechanisms for the sensing performance improvement caused by noble metal decoration, including the electronic sensitization effect and the chemical sensitization effect, have also been summarized in detail. Finally, major challenges and future perspectives towards noble metal-decorated SMOs-based chemiresistive gas sensors are proposed.

To date, development of high‐performance, stretchable gas sensors operating at and below room temperature (RT) remains a challenge in terms of traditional sensing materials. Herein, we report on a high‐performance NO2 gas sensor based on a self‐healable, recyclable, ultrastretchable, and stable polyvinyl alcohol–cellulose nanofibril double‐network organohydrogel, which features ultrahigh sensitivity (372%/ppm), low limit of detection (2.23 ppb), relatively fast response and recovery time (41/144 s for 250 ppb NO2), good selectivity against interfering gases (NH3, CO2, ethanol, and acetone), excellent reversibility, repeatability, and long‐term stability at RT or even at −20°C. In particular, this sensor shows outstanding stability against large deformations and mechanical damages so that it works normally after rapid self‐healing or remolding after undergoing mechanical damage without significant performance degradation, which has major advantages compared to state‐of‐the‐art gas sensors. The high NO2 sensitivity and selectivity are attributed to the selective redox reactions at the three‐phase interface of gas, gel, and electrode, which is even boosted by applying tensile strain. With a specific electrical circuit design, a wireless NO2 alarm system based on this sensor is created to enable continuous, real‐time, and wireless NO2 detection to avoid the risk of exposure to NO2 higher than threshold concentrations. For the first time, a self‐healing, recyclable, and degradable NO2 gas sensor is reported based on an ultrastretchable and stable polyvinyl alcohol–cellulose nanofibril double‐network organohydrogel, which is synthesized using a facile one‐step polymerization method based on glycerol‐induced formation of hydrogen bonds. The NO2 sensor features ultrahigh sensitivity (372%/ppm), low limit of detection (2.23 ppb), excellent selectivity, repeatability, and full reversibility at and below room temperature, enabling the real‐time, wireless, and continuous monitoring of trace NO2 based on a designed wireless alarm system.

Highlights With its layered structure, abundant functional groups, and excellent electrical conductivity, MXene is of great research interest in the field of gas sensing.The preparation technology of gas sensors is constantly being optimized, opening up avenues for the development of gas sensing.MXene-based composite materials (MXene/graphene, MXene/metal oxides, MXene/MOF, and MXene/polymer) are applied in various gas sensors.With the development of science and technology, the scale of industrial production continues to grow, and the types and quantities of gas raw materials used in industrial production and produced during the production process are also constantly increasing. These gases include flammable and explosive gases, and even contain toxic gases. Therefore, it is very important and necessary for gas sensors to detect and monitor these gases quickly and accurately. In recent years, a new two-dimensional material called MXene has attracted widespread attention in various applications. Their abundant surface functional groups and sites, excellent current conductivity, tunable surface chemistry, and outstanding stability make them promising for gas sensor applications. Since the birth of MXene materials, researchers have utilized the efficient and convenient solution etching preparation, high flexibility, and easily functionalize MXene with other materials to prepare composites for gas sensing. This has opened a new chapter in high-performance gas sensing materials and provided a new approach for advanced sensor research. However, previous reviews on MXene-based composite materials in gas sensing only focused on the performance of gas sensing, without systematically explaining the gas sensing mechanisms generated by different gases, as well as summarizing and predicting the advantages and disadvantages of MXene-based composite materials. This article reviews the latest progress in the application of MXene-based composite materials in gas sensing. Firstly, a brief summary was given of the commonly used methods for preparing gas sensing device structures, followed by an introduction to the key attributes of MXene related to gas sensing performance. This article focuses on the performance of MXene-based composite materials used for gas sensing, such as MXene/graphene, MXene/Metal oxide, MXene/Transition metal sulfides (TMDs), MXene/Metal–organic framework (MOF), MXene/Polymer. It summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of MXene composite materials with different composites and discusses the possible gas sensing mechanisms of MXene-based composite materials for different gases. Finally, future directions and inroads of MXenes-based composites in gas sensing are presented and discussed.

This paper presents an overview of semiconductor materials used in gas sensors, their technology, design, and application. Semiconductor materials include metal oxides, conducting polymers, carbon nanotubes, and 2D materials. Metal oxides are most often the first choice due to their ease of fabrication, low cost, high sensitivity, and stability. Some of their disadvantages are low selectivity and high operating temperature. Conducting polymers have the advantage of a low operating temperature and can detect many organic vapors. They are flexible but affected by humidity. Carbon nanotubes are chemically and mechanically stable and are sensitive towards NO and NH3, but need dopants or modifications to sense other gases. Graphene, transition metal chalcogenides, boron nitride, transition metal carbides/nitrides, metal organic frameworks, and metal oxide nanosheets as 2D materials represent gas-sensing materials of the future, especially in medical devices, such as breath sensing. This overview covers the most used semiconducting materials in gas sensing, their synthesis methods and morphology, especially oxide nanostructures, heterostructures, and 2D materials, as well as sensor technology and design, application in advance electronic circuits and systems, and research challenges from the perspective of emerging technologies.