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Recent Advances in Sensors for Chemical Detection Applications
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Recent Advances in Sensors for Chemical Detection Applications

A special issue of Sensors (ISSN 1424-8220). This special issue belongs to the section "Chemical Sensors".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2025 | Viewed by 9449

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Michele Penza

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Department for Sustainability, Division of Sustainable Materials, Laboratory Functional Materials and Technologies for Sustainable Applications, Brindisi Research Center, km 706, Strada Statale 7, Appia, I-72100 Brindisi, Italy
Interests: sensor materials; functional materials; gas sensors; air quality sensor systems; sensor technology development; environmental measurements; urban air quality sensor networks; smart cities applications; environmental sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Chemical detection based on low-cost sensor technologies has become increasingly popular for several emerging applications, such as industrial process control, chemical threat monitoring, green chemistry, environmental sustainability, smart cities, hydrogen economy, energy saving, wearable devices, IoT applications, public health protection, sustainable mobility, autonomous vehicles, and community sensing.

Functional materials are cross-cutting technologies used for chemical detection to provide advanced gas sensors at a laboratory level and real-world testing in many industrial applications. Low-power consumption, high-quality data, and optimal performance are some important parameters used for a new generation of low-cost chemical sensors. Portable sensor systems and wireless sensor networks are typical approaches used to monitor chemical threats in long-term operation.

Current low-cost sensor technologies include numerous types of transducers, such as chemiresistor, electrochemical, transistor, optical, mass-sensitive, catalytic, and other hybrid configurations, evolving quickly with different open questions and considerable challenges, such as sensitivity, selectivity, stability, detection limits, calibration, accuracy, and so on. Understanding the limitations and capabilities of current low-cost sensor technologies for chemical detection is a key issue for future applications.

This Special Issue will focus on low-cost sensor technology, gas sensors, chemical sensors, advanced active materials, sensor nodes, hardware innovations, data communications, system integration, sensor testing, processing/corrections algorithms, machine learning, new solutions, and applications for chemical detection issues. Proper calibration techniques of chemical sensors are necessary, both in laboratory and field applications. Wireless sensor networks will be considered in the context of chemical detection applications.

In this Special Issue, we kindly invite front-line scientists to submit original researches and review articles on Recent Advances in Sensors for Chemical Detection Applications.

Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Gas sensors;
  • Chemical detection;
  • Advanced materials for chemical sensing;
  • Novel gas sensor materials;
  • Sensor calibration;
  • Sensor systems;
  • Machine Learning algorithms;
  • Wireless sensor networks;
  • Chemical threats monitoring;
  • Environmental measurements;
  • Sensors for smart city applications;
  • Sensors for environmental sustainability;
  • Sensors for energy applications;
  • Sensors for IoT applications;
  • Sensors for industrial applications;
  • Sensors for sustainable mobility;
  • Case-studies of chemical detection campaigns;
  • New concepts and trends in chemical sensing.

Dr. Michele Penza
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sensors is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • gas sensors
  • chemical sensors
  • sensor active materials
  • advanced functional nanomaterials
  • portable chemical sensor-systems
  • chemical sensor modelling
  • IoT devices
  • machine learning engineering
  • chemical sensor applications
  • new concepts in chemical sensing

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 4719 KiB  
Article
Synergistic Enhancement of Chemiresistive NO2 Gas Sensors Using Nitrogen-Doped Reduced Graphene Oxide (N-rGO) Decorated with Nickel Oxide (NiO) Nanoparticles: Achieving sub-ppb Detection Limit
by Chiheb Walleni, Mounir Ben Ali, Mohamed Faouzi Ncib and Eduard Llobet
Sensors 2025, 25(5), 1631; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25051631 - 6 Mar 2025
Abstract
Detecting low nitrogen dioxide concentrations (NO2) is crucial for environmental monitoring. In this paper, we report the synergistic effect of decorating nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (N-rGO) with nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles for developing highly selective and sensitive chemiresistive NO2 gas [...] Read more.
Detecting low nitrogen dioxide concentrations (NO2) is crucial for environmental monitoring. In this paper, we report the synergistic effect of decorating nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (N-rGO) with nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles for developing highly selective and sensitive chemiresistive NO2 gas sensors. The N-rGO/NiO sensor was synthesized straightforwardly, ensuring uniform decoration of NiO nanoparticles on the N-rGO surface. Comprehensive characterization using SEM, TEM, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy confirmed the successful integration of NiO nanoparticles with N-rGO and revealed key structural and morphological features contributing to its enhanced sensing performance. As a result, the NiO/N-rGO nanohybrids demonstrate a significantly enhanced response five orders of magnitude higher than that of N-rGO toward low NO2 concentrations (<1 ppm) at 100 °C. Moreover, the present device has an outstanding performance, high sensitivity, and low limit of detection (<1 ppb). The findings pave the way for integrating these sensors into advanced applications, including environmental monitoring and IoT-enabled air quality management systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Sensors for Chemical Detection Applications)
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17 pages, 5079 KiB  
Article
Holey Carbon Nanohorns-Based Nanohybrid as Sensing Layer for Resistive Ethanol Sensor
by Bogdan-Catalin Serban, Niculae Dumbravescu, Octavian Buiu, Marius Bumbac, Mihai Brezeanu, Cristina Pachiu, Cristina-Mihaela Nicolescu, Oana Brancoveanu and Cornel Cobianu
Sensors 2025, 25(5), 1299; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25051299 - 20 Feb 2025
Viewed by 252
Abstract
The study presents the ethanol vapor sensing performance of a resistive sensor that utilizes a quaternary nanohybrid sensing layer composed of holey carbon nanohorns (CNHox), graphene oxide (GO), SnO2, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in an equal mass ratio of 1:1:1:1 (w [...] Read more.
The study presents the ethanol vapor sensing performance of a resistive sensor that utilizes a quaternary nanohybrid sensing layer composed of holey carbon nanohorns (CNHox), graphene oxide (GO), SnO2, and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) in an equal mass ratio of 1:1:1:1 (w/w/w/w). The sensing device includes a flexible polyimide substrate and interdigital transducer (IDT)-like electrodes. The sensing film is deposited by drop-casting on the sensing structure. The morphology and composition of the sensitive film are analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) Spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy. The manufactured resistive device presents good sensitivity to concentrations of alcohol vapors varying in the range of 0.008–0.16 mg/cm3. The resistance of the proposed sensing structure increases over the entire range of measured ethanol concentration. Different types of sensing mechanisms are recognized. The decrease in the hole concentration in CNHox, GO, and CNHox due to the interaction with ethanol vapors, which act as electron donors, and the swelling of the PVP are plausible and seem to be the prevalent sensing pathway. The hard–soft acid-base (HSAB) principle strengthens our analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Sensors for Chemical Detection Applications)
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13 pages, 4728 KiB  
Article
Graphene/TiO2 Heterostructure Integrated with a Micro-Lightplate for Low-Power NO2 Gas Detection
by Paniz Vafaei, Margus Kodu, Harry Alles, Valter Kiisk, Olga Casals, Joan Daniel Prades and Raivo Jaaniso
Sensors 2025, 25(2), 382; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25020382 - 10 Jan 2025
Viewed by 767
Abstract
Low-power gas sensors that can be used in IoT (Internet of Things) systems, consumer devices, and point-of-care devices will enable new applications in environmental monitoring and health protection. We fabricated a monolithic chemiresistive gas sensor by integrating a micro-lightplate with a 2D sensing [...] Read more.
Low-power gas sensors that can be used in IoT (Internet of Things) systems, consumer devices, and point-of-care devices will enable new applications in environmental monitoring and health protection. We fabricated a monolithic chemiresistive gas sensor by integrating a micro-lightplate with a 2D sensing material composed of single-layer graphene and monolayer-thick TiO2. Applying ultraviolet (380 nm) light with quantum energy above the TiO2 bandgap effectively enhanced the sensor responses. Low (<1 μW optical) power operation of the device was demonstrated by measuring NO2 gas at low concentrations, which is typical in air quality monitoring, with an estimated limit of detection < 0.1 ppb. The gas response amplitudes remained nearly constant over the studied light intensity range (1–150 mW/cm2) owing to the balance between the photoinduced adsorption and desorption processes of the gas molecules. The rates of both processes followed an approximately square-root dependence on light intensity, plausibly because the electron–hole recombination of photoinduced charge carriers is the primary rate-limiting factor. These results pave the way for integrating 2D materials with micro-LED arrays as a feasible path to advanced electronic noses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Sensors for Chemical Detection Applications)
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14 pages, 2867 KiB  
Article
Non-Invasive Malaria Detection in Sub-Saharan Africa Using a DNA-Based Sensor System
by Trine Juul-Kristensen, Celine Thiesen, Line Wulff Haurum, Josephine Geertsen Keller, Romeo Wenceslas Lendamba, Rella Zoleko Manego, Madeleine Eunice Betouke Ongwe, Birgitta Ruth Knudsen, Eduardo Pareja, Eduardo Pareja-Tobes, Rodrigo Labouriau, Ghyslain Mombo-Ngoma and Cinzia Tesauro
Sensors 2024, 24(24), 7947; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24247947 - 12 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1062
Abstract
Malaria poses a serious global health problem, with half the world population being at risk. Regular screening is crucial for breaking the transmission cycle and combatting the disease spreading. However, current diagnostic tools relying on blood samples face challenges in many malaria-epidemic areas. [...] Read more.
Malaria poses a serious global health problem, with half the world population being at risk. Regular screening is crucial for breaking the transmission cycle and combatting the disease spreading. However, current diagnostic tools relying on blood samples face challenges in many malaria-epidemic areas. In the present study, we demonstrate the detection of the malaria-causing Plasmodium parasite in non-invasive saliva samples (N = 61) from infected individuals by combining a DNA-based Rolling-circle-Enhanced-Enzyme-Activity-Detection (REEAD) sensor system with a chemiluminescence readout that could be detected with an in-house-developed affordable and battery-powered portable reader. We successfully transferred the technology to sub-Saharan Africa, where the malaria burden is high, and demonstrated a proof of concept in a small study (N = 40) showing significant differences (p < 0.00001) between malaria-positive individuals (N = 33) and presumed asymptomatic negative individuals (N = 7) all collected in Gabon. This is the first successful application of the REEAD sensor system for the detection of malaria in saliva in a high-epidemic area and holds promise for the potential future use of REEAD for malaria diagnosis or surveillance based on non-invasive specimens in sub-Saharan Africa. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Sensors for Chemical Detection Applications)
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16 pages, 4785 KiB  
Article
Room-Temperature Ammonia Sensing Using Polyaniline-Coated Laser-Induced Graphene
by José Carlos Santos-Ceballos, Foad Salehnia, Frank Güell, Alfonso Romero, Xavier Vilanova and Eduard Llobet
Sensors 2024, 24(23), 7832; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24237832 - 7 Dec 2024
Viewed by 4592
Abstract
The reliable detection of ammonia at room temperature is crucial for not only maintaining environmental safety but also for reducing the risks of hazardous pollutants. In this study, the electrochemical modification of laser-induced graphene (LIG) with polyaniline (PANI) led to the development of [...] Read more.
The reliable detection of ammonia at room temperature is crucial for not only maintaining environmental safety but also for reducing the risks of hazardous pollutants. In this study, the electrochemical modification of laser-induced graphene (LIG) with polyaniline (PANI) led to the development of a chemo-resistive nanocomposite (PANI@LIG) for detecting ammonia levels at room temperature. The composite is characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transforms infrared, and Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. This work marks the first utilization of PANI@LIG for gas sensing and introduces a simple but effective approach for fabricating low-cost wearable gas sensors with high sensitivity and flexibility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Sensors for Chemical Detection Applications)
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20 pages, 1695 KiB  
Article
Comparison of Classical and Inverse Calibration Equations in Chemical Analysis
by Hsuan-Yu Chen and Chiachung Chen
Sensors 2024, 24(21), 7038; https://doi.org/10.3390/s24217038 - 31 Oct 2024
Viewed by 706
Abstract
Chemical analysis adopts a calibration curve to establish the relationship between the measuring technique’s response and the target analyte’s standard concentration. The calibration equation is established using regression analysis to verify the response of a chemical instrument to the known properties of materials [...] Read more.
Chemical analysis adopts a calibration curve to establish the relationship between the measuring technique’s response and the target analyte’s standard concentration. The calibration equation is established using regression analysis to verify the response of a chemical instrument to the known properties of materials that served as standard values. An adequate calibration equation ensures the performance of these instruments. There are two kinds of calibration equations: classical equations and inverse equations. For the classical equation, the standard values are independent, and the instrument’s response is dependent. The inverse equation is the opposite: the instrument’s response is the independent value. For the new response value, the calculation of the new measurement by the classical equation must be transformed into a complex form to calculate the measurement values. However, the measurement values of the inverse equation could be computed directly. Different forms of calibration equations besides the linear equation could be used for the inverse calibration equation. This study used measurement data sets from two kinds of humidity sensors and nine data sets from the literature to evaluate the predictive performance of two calibration equations. Four criteria were proposed to evaluate the predictive ability of two calibration equations. The study found that the inverse calibration equation could be an effective tool for complex calibration equations in chemical analysis. The precision of the instrument’s response is essential to ensure predictive performance. The inverse calibration equation could be embedded into the measurement device, and then intelligent instruments could be enhanced. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Sensors for Chemical Detection Applications)
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Review

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32 pages, 4842 KiB  
Review
Perspectives on the Application of Biosensors for the Early Detection of Oral Cancer
by Sanket Naresh Nagdeve, Baviththira Suganthan and Ramaraja P. Ramasamy
Sensors 2025, 25(5), 1459; https://doi.org/10.3390/s25051459 - 27 Feb 2025
Viewed by 206
Abstract
Oral cancer continues to cause profound suffering and is associated with high mortality rates. Early detection techniques are crucial in enhancing patient outcomes. This review paper thoroughly evaluates the significance of biomarkers and recent advancements in oral cancer detection, emphasizing cutting-edge electrochemical methods. [...] Read more.
Oral cancer continues to cause profound suffering and is associated with high mortality rates. Early detection techniques are crucial in enhancing patient outcomes. This review paper thoroughly evaluates the significance of biomarkers and recent advancements in oral cancer detection, emphasizing cutting-edge electrochemical methods. The paper provides an epidemiological and etiological overview, outlining its clinical importance and reviewing the current state of the art in detection methods. Despite considerable progress, conventional methods exhibit limitations such as invasiveness, long wait times, and a lack of accuracy, creating a critical need for more robust technologies. This review emphasizes the significance of oral cancer biomarkers, which are considered promising cues for early detection, facilitating the development of innovative biosensing technologies. This review seeks to illuminate the recent advances in early detection and precision diagnostics, along with the usage of artificial intelligence strategies, ultimately contributing to significant progress in the battle against oral cancer. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Sensors for Chemical Detection Applications)
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