Simple color-changing sensor quickly identifies poisonous gases

Not all poisonous gases have a smell or a color. But a tiny grid of pastel- and candy-colored squares that effectively “sniffs” out hazardous chemicals in the air such as chlorosarin—a highly toxic nerve agent—could help detect them. Researchers report in ACS Sensors that the colorful patterns in their inexpensive and durable paper-based sensor array changed in the presence of poisonous gases, allowing for quick and accurate measurements within minutes.

Electronic noses, or e-noses, are devices that detect harmful chemical vapors. But their electronic components can be pricey and aren’t practical for humid environments. Optoelectronic noses may address these limitations by replacing the electronic components with dye molecules that change color when they react with certain chemicals.

Vijay Tak and his colleagues created and tested a new optoelectronic nose design: an array of sensors that detect and measure deadly gases. Each sensor within the array is a tiny paper square containing microscopic silica particles coated with dyes that change color and intensity after interacting with specific molecules or ions.

As a proof-of-concept, Tak and the research team created the sensors by soaking silica microparticles in 36 different color-changing dye solutions. After air drying them, they created a 12×3 array of color-changing sensors by placing the dried particles into a microwell plate, laying a piece of adhesive paper on top, and then flipping the plate so that the dye-containing silica particles are embossed onto the paper. To provide structural support for the array, a thin metal sheet is stuck to the sticky underside of the paper.

To test the array’s accuracy, the researchers exposed it to 12 poisonous gases at two concentrations each. The team compared photos of the squares’ color and intensity before and after five minutes of gas exposure. This produced a pattern that they could use to identify the type and concentration of gas present.

In repeated experiments, the color-changing sensors achieved 99% accuracy for identifying the type of chemical threat and 96% accuracy for measuring the concentration in the gas samples. Additionally, another demonstration confirmed that the array’s accuracy was not affected by humidity.

With an estimated fabrication cost of 20 cents USD per array, the researchers say their designs could offer a cost-effective and customizable approach for environmental monitoring in real-world conditions. Next, they plan to develop a hand-held optoelectronic-nose prototype to test for hazardous chemicals outdoors.