MSU Technologies

Hazardous Gas Sensor Using Ionic Liquid Films for Enhanced Detection

Overview

This innovative hazardous gas sensor developed at Michigan State University leverages the unique properties of ionic liquid films to detect flammable and/or toxic hazardous gases with high sensitivity and selectivity. Designed for environments where hazardous gas detection is critical—such as industrial safety zones, biomedical diagnostics, and environmental monitoring—this sensor offers a robust and scalable solution for real-time hazardous gas detection.

Key Features

Ionic Liquid-Based Detection: This hazardous gas sensor utilizes non-volatile ionic liquid films that concentrate target gases, improving detection accuracy and enabling low-level sensing in ambient conditions.
Multi-Electrode Array: Multiple electrodes can be customized with different ionic liquid compositions, allowing for tailored sensor selectivity across a range of hazardous gases and vapors.
Compact and Scalable Design: The sensor’s architecture supports miniaturization and integration into portable or embedded systems for field deployment.

Applications

Industrial Safety: Detects flammable hazardous gases like methane and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in manufacturing and processing facilities.
Environmental Monitoring: Enables precise tracking of air quality and pollutant levels in urban and remote settings.
Biomedical Diagnostics: Potential for breath analysis and VOC detection in clinical environments.
Security and Counter-Terrorism: Capable of sensing hazardous explosive vapors such as TNT and DNT at parts-per-billion concentrations.

Advantages

Enhanced sensitivity through gas concentration in ionic liquid films.
Customizable electrode configurations for multi-target detection.
Sensor operates effectively in ambient air without the need for complex sample preparation.