ABSTRACT
For two decades, sensing materials have played a quintessential role in our daily routines. Sensors are known to support our civil life in many aspects; for example, semiconductor gas sensors detect inflammable gases in the air such as LPG and CH4 as domestic alarms. Oxygen sensors are used in metallurgical processes and car emission controls. Humidity sensors using ceramics and polymers are used in food technology and air conditioning. Recent global environmental concerns have augmented research and development in the field of gas sensors with an exponential rate in terms of financial investments, industrial installations, published literature, and also the active researchers. Moreover, the status quo of sensors has now expanded with the introduction of new materials, i.e., nanomaterials-based gas sensors. Currently, nanotechnology is gaining importance in gas sensing applications due to fact that nanomaterials have high surface-to-volume ratio which ultimately offers multiple benefits such as faster detection of gaseous molecules, low power consumption, higher efficiency rate, higher stability, and mass production. Furthermore, nanomaterials—when fabricated using multiple synthesis techniques and procedures—help engineers and researchers to tailor structural and electrical properties for widespread applications. Materials such as carbon nanotubes, nanofibers, and graphene have potential to revolutionize the gas sensing industry owing to their capability of being integrated into flexible and wearable devices. The present chapter comprises the discussion about nanotechnology-based gas sensors materials and their technology. Additionally, their growing opportunities in the future for their multifunctional utilization are also discussed.
