Sensor technology is one of the most important key technologies of the future with a constantly increasing number of applications, both in the industrial and in the private sectors. More and more gas sensors are used for the control of technical processes, in environment monitoring, healthcare, and automobiles. Consequently, the development of fast and sensitive gas sensors with small cross sensitivity is the subject of intense research, propelled by strategies based on nanoscience and -technology. Established systems can be improved and novel sensor concepts based on bottom-up approaches show that the sensor properties can be controlled by molecular design. This Review highlights the recent developments and reflects the impact of nanoscience on sensor technology.

Metal and Metal Oxide Nanoparticles in Chemiresistors: Does the Nanoscale Matter?

Detection of hazardous volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by metal oxide nanostructures-based gas sensors: A review

Metal oxide nano-crystals for gas sensing.

This article provides a comprehensive review of current research activities that concentrate on chemical sensors based on nanotubes, nanorods, nanobelts, and nanowires. We devote the most attention on the experimental principle, design of sensing devices, sensing mechanism, and some important conclusions. We elaborate on development of chemical sensors based on nanostructured materials in the following four sections: (1) nanotube sensors; (2) nanorod sensors; (3) nanobelt sensors; (4) nanowire sensors. We conclude this review with personal perspectives on the directions towards which future research on nanostructured sensors might be directed.

https://www.engr.colostate.edu/ECE581/fall07/reviews/Chemical%20sensors%20based%20on%20nanostructured%20materials.pdf

Chemical sensors based on nanostructured materials

Quasi-one dimensional metal oxide semiconductors: Preparation, characterization and application as chemical sensors

ZnO nanorods are prepared by a hydrothermal process with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and zinc powder at 182 °C. The samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The gas sensing properties of the materials have been investigated. The results indicate that the as-prepared ZnO nanorods show much better sensitivity and stability than the conventional materials. The PdO doping can improve the sensitivity and selectivity of the sensors. ZnO nanorods are excellent potential candidates for gas sensors.

Hydrothermal synthesis and gas sensing characters of ZnO nanorods

ZnO nanorods are prepared by a hydrothermal process with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and zinc powder at 182°C. The samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The gas sensing properties of the materials have been investigated. The results indicate that the as-prepared ZnO nanorods are uniform with diameters of 40–80 nm and lengths about 1 μm, the relatively high sensitivity and stability of these sensors made from ZnO nanorods demonstrate the potential for developing a new class of stable and very sensitive sensors.

Chen Yuping

Papers

Hydrothermal synthesis and gas sensing characters of ZnO nanorods

Gas sensing properties of ZnO nanorods prepared by hydrothermal method