A new approach for multiple gas sensing with high sensitivity and selectivity

There is a growing interest in the development of the next generation of gas detection devices capable of reliably monitoring small amounts of harmful gases in gas mixtures. The goal of the MULTISENSE project is to develop a new gas analyzer based on a working principle that involves the splitting of rotational levels of gas molecules in a DC electric field and achieving resonance in an AC electric or magnetic field. The low resonance frequency in the MHz range enables detection using simple and affordable equipment. The proposed mechanism favors physisorption as the main interaction between the gas sensing material and the gas molecules, allowing for the detection of a specific gas from a gas mixture with high selectivity and sensitivity at room temperature. Due to their physico-chemical properties and microstructure, 2D materials, along with metal-oxide semiconductors, have been selected as materials of interest for the development of new gas sensors. The main outcomes of the MULTISENSE project are the experimental validation of the new detection mechanism and the development of a laboratory prototype gas analyzer for sensitive and selective gas detection. The project is expected to have a long-term impact on the gas sensor market, medical breath analysis devices, healthcare, and society as a whole.