#TechTuesday: Graphene gas detectors for increased safety

Air pollution is difficult to escape, no matter where you live. It seriously affects your health and the environment, and even though air quality in Europe has improved over recent decades, the World Health Organization guidelines estimates that 97% of the urban population in Europe are exposed to air pollutant levels above the WHO guideline. Now, graphene-enabled sensors could be the key to enabling healthier choices and reducing direct exposure to pollutants.  

Graphene Flagship Partner ICN2, Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, has created graphene-based electroluminescent inks that work as effective gas detectors. The screen-printed electroluminescent display is modified with a graphene-oxide nanocomposite, which is able to accurately sense changes and anomalies in the air, from humidity levels to toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide or nitric oxide. When graphene sensors embedded in the device respond to minute changes in the air composition, the screen becomes conductive and activates visual cues, which vary in intensity according to the amount of gas detected.  

Typically, pollution levels vary greatly over short distances, particularly in enclosed spaces with poor ventilation. Therefore accurate, real-time monitoring is vital to alerting people of sudden decreases in air quality, enabling them to avoid heavily polluted areas, and possibly reduce the chances of COVID transmission, which has been linked to increased CO2 levels. 

Flexible humidity detection sensors are relatively inexpensive to produce and have the potential to be seamlessly integrated into homes, airplanes, cars, and public spaces. Applications could also be utilised in the medical market, aiding with breath detection and breathing cycles. The Graphene Flagship continues to develop real-life applications for this revolutionary gas detection sensors.