Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Science and Technology
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
