Ultra-sensitive wearable ammonia sensor

Why in News?

Recently, scientists at the CeNS, Bengaluru, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), have developed an advanced ammonia sensor.

• Developed by – Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences
• Function – Capable of detecting toxic gas at extremely low concentrations.
• Sensor Design – Hybrid vanadium oxide–vanadium sulfide (VOx/VS₂) heterostructure, engineered via controlled surface transformation.
• Performance – 
  • Detects ammonia as low as 319 parts per billion (ppb), well below occupational safety limits.
  • Excellent selectivity against other common gases.
  • Stable performance over repeated cycles.
  • Long‑term reliability (>10 weeks).
  • Effective across wide concentration ranges.
• Industrial Relevance – Ammonia widely used in fertiliser manufacturing, refrigeration, chemical production, and agriculture.
• Health Risks – Exposure causes severe irritation to eyes, skin, respiratory system; prolonged exposure leads to serious complications.
• Energy Efficiency – Operates at room temperature, unlike conventional sensors requiring high temperatures.

Prototypes

• Portable Monitoring Device – Threshold‑triggered system, auto-classifies ammonia levels as safe, warning, danger zones to respond quickly without technical expertise.
• Designed for industrial plants, storage facilities, laboratories and agricultural settings where ammonia leakage risk is high.
• Self‑Powered Sensor – sensing platform with a flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator; harvests energy from human movements.
• Wearable Versions – Fabricated on polymer, paper, textile substrates; lightweight, flexible, retain sensing capability even when bent or folded.
• Smart Applications – Prototype smart bands, smart‑home warning systems, electronic textiles for personal safety and intelligent environmental sensing.

Reference

DD News | Ammonia Sensor