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Sensor - Gas

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Gas sensor is a device which can detect the presence of various toxic and combustible gases present in the environment.

Operating Principle

The interaction between the test gas and the sensing surface can be detected by the measurements of change in resistance, capacitance, work function, mass, optical characteristics etc. Below table is from Source1.

Class of gas sensorsOperating principle
ElectrochemicalChanges in current, voltage, capacitance/impedance: 1. Voltammetry (including amperometry) 2. Potentiometry 3. Chemically sensitized field-effect transistor 4. Potentiometry with solid electrolytes for gas sensing
ElectricalMetal oxide conductivity Organic conductivity Electrolytic conductivity Heterojunction conductivity (Schottky diode, FET, MOS) Work function Electric permittivity (capacitance)
Mass sensitiveChanges in the weight, amplitude, phase or frequency, size, shape, or position: 1. Quartz crystal microbalance 2. Surface acoustic wave propagation 3. Cantilever
MagneticChanges of paramagnetic gas properties
Optical devicesChanges in light intensity, color, or emission spectra: 1. Absorbance 2. Reflectance 3. Luminescence 4. Refractive index 5. Optothermal effect 6. Light scattering (Raman scattering, plasmon resonance)
Thermometric (calorimetric)Heat effects of a specific chemical reaction. Changes in temperature, heat flow, heat content: 1. Thermoelectric 2. Pyroelectric 3. Catalytic bead (pellistors) 4. Thermal conductivity
Table 1.The classification of gas sensors suggested in 1991 by Analytical Chemistry Division of IUPAC,

Field of Applicaitons

There are a numerous use of these gas sensors. Particularly, using these gas sensors human beings can be saved from potential dangers. Hence the gas sensors play important roles in various sectors, which include industry, medical, environmental applications, and domestic applications for monitoring toxic and flammable gases. Below table is from Source2.

Field of applicationFunctionExamples of detected gases
EnvironmentMonitoring toxic gases present in the atmosphere, due to industrial emissions (weather stations, pollutionmonitoring)CO, CH4, humidity, CO2, O3, VOCs, SOx
Safety at workControl of indoor air quality; monitoring toxic gases in a working environment, for instance in a factory where dangerous chemicals are usedToxic gases, combustible gases, O2
Domestic safety/household applicationDetection of poisonous gases or smoke in households, due to accidents such as fires and explosions; intelligent refrigera­tor or oven; fire alarm; natural gas heating; leak detection; air quality control; air purifiers; cooking controlCO, humidity, CO2, VOCs
Safety in carCar ventilation control; gasoline vapor detection; alcohol breath testsCO, LPG, VOCs, CH4
Public securityControl of indoor air quality, detection of substances dangerous for the safety of the general publicToxic gases, combustible gases, flammable gases, explosives, O2
Medical/clinicalDiagnostics(breath analysis, disease detection); point-of-care patient monitoring; drug monitoring; artificial organs and prostheses; new drug discoveryO2, NH, NOx, CO2, H2S, H2, CL2, anesthesia gases
AgriculturePlant/animal diagnostics; soil and water testing; meat/poultry inspect ion; waste/sewage monitoringamines, humidity, CO
Food quality controlDetection of particular molecules, which are formed when food starts to rot and it is no longer good for consumptionhumidity, CO2
Utilities/automotive/power plantsControl of the concentration of the gases in the engine and gas boiler, to guarantee the highest possible efficiency of the combustion process. The same concept can also be applied to power plants, as the energy is generated by combustionO2, CO, HCs, NOx, SOx, CO2, H2, HCs
Industry: Petrochemical Steel/Water treatment/SemiconductorProcess monitoring and control; quality control; workplace monitoring; waste stream monitoring; leakage alarmHCs, conventional pollutants, O2, H2, O3, CO2, CL2, CH4,H2S
Defense/militaryDetection of chemical, biological, and toxin warfare agents; treaty verificationAgents, explosives, propellants
AerospaceMonitoring of oxygen and toxic and flammable gases in the environ­ment atmosphereH2, O2, CO3, humidity
Traffic/tunnels/car parksCity traffic control and management; air quality monitoring in tunnels or underground parking garages
Table 2.Some examples of gas sensor applications

Seeed Gas Sensor

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NameThumbnailTarget GasClass of gas sensorsField of applicationSensorDetecting RangeAccuracyOperate voltageInterfaceClick to Buy
Grove - Multichannel Gas Sensor V2Besides Carbon monoxide (CO), Nitrogen dioxide (NO2), Ethyl alcohol(C2H5CH), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and etcElectricalEnvironmentGM102B, GM302B, GM502B, GM702B/NA3.3V 5VI2COrder
Grove - Multichannel Gas Sensor V1Carbon monoxide,Nitrogen dioxide, Ethanol, Hydrogen, Ammonia, Methane, Propane, Iso-butaneElectricalEnvironmentMiCS-6814CO: 1–1000ppm NO2: 0.05–10ppm H2: 10–500ppm C2H5OH: 1-1000ppm NH3: 1-500ppm CH4: >1000ppm C3H8: >1000ppm C4H10: >1000ppmNA3.3V 5VI2COrder
Grove - Air Quality Sensor v1.3Alcohol, SmokeElectrochemicalEnvironmentMP50310-1000ppm(Alcohol)NA3.3V 5VAnalogOrder
Grove - Alcohol Sensor AlcoholElectrochemicalSafety in car Public securityMQ303A20-1000ppm AlcoholNA5VAnalogOrder
Grove - CO2 Sensor CO2ElectrochemicalEnvironment AgricultureMH-Z160-5000ppm±(50ppm +5%)5VUARTOrder
Grove - CO2 & Temperature & Humidity Sensor (SCD30)CO2Optical devicesEnvironment AgricultureSCD300-40000ppm±(30 ppm + 3%)3.3V 5VI2COrder
Grove - VOC and eCO2 Gas Sensor (SGP30) VOC,CO2ElectricalEnvironment AgricultureSGP30VOC: 0 ppb to 60000ppb CO2: 400 ppm to 60000 ppmVOC: (0-2008ppb/1ppb, 2008-11110ppb/6ppb, 11110-60000ppb/32ppb) CO2: (400-1479ppm/1ppm, 1479-5144ppm/3ppm, 5144-17597ppm/9ppm, 17597-60000ppm/31ppm)3.3V 5VI2COrder
Grove - Gas Sensor(MQ2) LPG, i-butane, propane, methane, alcohol, Hydrogen, smokeElectrochemicalDomestic safety/household application Safety at workMQ2LPG and propane: 200ppm-5000ppm Butane: 300ppm-5000ppm Methane: 5000ppm-20000ppm H2: 300ppm-5000ppm Alcohol:100ppm-2000ppmNA5VAnalogOrder
Grove - Gas Sensor(MQ3) High sensitivity to alcohol and small sensitivity to BenzineElectrochemicalSafety in car Public securityMQ3Alcohol: 0.05-10mg/LNA5VAnalogOrder
Grove - Gas Sensor(MQ5) High sensitivity to LPG, natural gas, town gas and Small sensitivity to alcohol, smokeElectrochemicalIndustry: Petrochemical Steel/Water treatment/Semiconductor Utilities/automotive/power plantsMQ5200-10000ppmNA5VAnalogOrder
Grove - Gas Sensor(MQ9) High sensitivity to carbon monoxide and CH4,LPGElectrochemicalSafety in car Industry: Petrochemical Steel/Water treatment/Semiconductor Utilities/automotive/power plants Domestic safety/household applicationMQ9Carbon monoxide: 20-2000ppm CH4: 500-10000ppm LPG: 500-10000ppmNA5VAnalogOrder
Grove - Gas Sensor(O2)O2ElectrochemicalSafety in car Industry: Petrochemical Steel/Water treatment/Semiconductor Utilities/automotive/power plants Domestic safety/household applicationME2-O2-Ф200~25%VolNA3.3V 5VAnalogOrder
Grove - HCHO SensorToluene, methanal, benzene, alcohol, acetoneElectrochemicalEnvironmentWSP21101~50ppmNA3.3V 5VAnalogOrder
Grove - Temperature, Humidity, Pressure and Gas Sensor (BME680)IAQElectricalEnvironment Domestic safety/household applicationBME6800-500NA3.3V 5VI2COrder

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Table 3.Seeed Gas Sensor Category

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  1. Source: Reprinted from I lulanicki et al. (1991). Published by International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.
  2. Source: Data from Taylor (1996), Stcttcr et al. (2003), Capone ct al. (2003), etc. HCs hydrocarbons, VOCs volatile organic compounds.
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