Gas detectionResearcher develops highly sensitive, nanomaterial gas detector

A doctoral student at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute has developeda new sensor to detect extremely small quantities of hazardous gas.

Using grapheme, one of the world’s thinnest materials, Fazel Yavari has created a device that is durable, inexpensive, and highly sensitive.

Physorg.com reports that Yavari’s sensor has created a range of new gas detectors for bomb squads, law enforcement officials, the military, and industry.

Conventional gas detectors are relatively large and bulky, and in the past efforts to shrink the devices and boost sensitivity have stalled as sensors often required high temperatures to detect gases, which in turn requires large amounts of power.

Nanomaterials, which are highly sensitive, have long been a sought after for gas detection, however constructing single nanostructures have proven to be costly and highly complex. In addition nanostructures are very fragile, prone to failure, and result in poor performance.

To overcome these challenges, Yavari used a device that combined the sensitivity of nanomaterials with the durability, low cost, and ease of use of a macroscopic device. The grapheme foam sensor that Yavari created is roughly the size of a postage stamp and as thick of felt. It functions at room temperature and is relatively inexpensive to produce.

The device is able to detect gas by reading changes in the grapheme foam’s electrical conductivity when gas particles stick to the foam’s surface. Furthermore, the foam is reusable as these chemicals can be unstuck by applying an electric current.

So far the grapheme sensor is capable of detecting gases like ammonia and nitrogen dioxide, and other gases can be configured as well.

Yavari’s work earned him $30,000 and top honors at the Lemelson-MIT Rensselaer Student competition.