Nanomaterials Based Sensors for Air Pollution Control

Abstract

Nowadays air pollution created by chemical gaseous pollutants becomes the major concern for the adverse effect on human health, plant or animal life, or the welfare of man. Thus miniaturized low-cost sensor device based on nanomaterials can be introduced for an observable signal, or warning bell may be set to control the pollution level of outdoor as well as indoor air. Exploring the present state-of-the-art inorganic, organic, or even hybrid nanomaterials used as receptor in chemical sensors to detect the pollutants in the air is briefly considered here. In that goal, the utility of the various nanomaterials is focused in the sensing of various air pollutants. Among those, the nanomaterials receptors like metal and metal oxide semiconductors, solid electrolytes, insulators, catalytic materials, polymers, etc. including their hybrid nanomaterials have been considered here. The synthesis and required properties of the nanomaterials for the sensing application of specific gaseous pollutants are discussed in brief. The discussion also highlights the activity of nanomaterials for the improvement of sensing performance of existing sensor. Finally the important example of air pollutant sensor based on various nanomaterials is represented elaborately, and challenges for the future development are outlined in this chapter.