GAS SENSOR FOR NITROGEN OXIDES :
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
NEWS : New high-performance gas sensor can
monitor low level nitrogen oxides pollution
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS ?
New ZnFe₂O₄-Based Gas Sensor:
- Invention: Scientists at the Centre for
Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS) developed a new gas sensor using zinc
ferrite (ZnFe₂O₄) nanostructures.
- Ultra-Low Detection: The sensor detects
nitrogen oxides (NOx) at parts-per-billion (ppb) levels, even at room
temperature.
- Advantages Over Existing Sensors:
- Works at room temperature (no
high-temperature requirement).
- High sensitivity and selectivity.
- Quick response and excellent
durability (over 3 months).
- Testing: Successfully tested on vehicle
exhaust samples, detecting trace NOx levels.
- Cost Efficiency: Low energy demand
reduces operating costs, making it affordable for air pollution
monitoring.
- Computational Support: Studies confirmed
the sensor’s improved detection capability for NOx using the novel
nanostructure.
Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) Pollution:
Causes:
- Vehicle Emissions: From fuel
combustion in cars, trucks, buses.
- Industrial Processes: Power plants,
factories burning fossil fuels.
- Agriculture: Use of fertilizers, biomass
burning.
- Residential Emissions: Heating systems,
stoves.
- Natural Sources: Wildfires,
lightning strikes (in smaller amounts).
Impacts:
- Health: Contributes to ground-level
ozone (smog), leading to respiratory issues like asthma and bronchitis.
- Acid Rain: Damages crops, forests, and
aquatic ecosystems.
- Air Quality: Forms fine particulate matter,
worsening air quality.
- Climate Change: Contributes to
greenhouse gas formation.
- Infrastructure Damage: Corrodes
buildings, monuments, and materials due to acidic reactions.
Source : https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2051321#:~:text=A%20novel%20nanostructure%20developed%20by,in%20urban%20and%20industrial%20areas.