Advanced Room-Temperature Ammonia Sensor

In July 2026, scientists at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, developed an advanced ammonia sensor capable of detecting toxic gas at extremely low concentrations.

Key Points

New Technology: The sensor uses a hybrid vanadium oxide–vanadium sulfide (VOx/VS₂) heterostructure for highly sensitive ammonia detection.
High Sensitivity: It can detect ammonia concentrations as low as 319 parts per billion (ppb), below occupational safety limits.
Room-Temperature Operation: Unlike conventional sensors, it functions efficiently at room temperature, reducing energy consumption.
Self-Powered Device: Researchers integrated the sensor with a flexible piezoelectric nanogenerator, enabling operation without an external power source.
Wearable Applications: Flexible prototypes were developed on polymer, paper and textile substrates for smart bands and wearable safety devices.
Practical Uses: The technology can be used for industrial safety, environmental monitoring, agriculture, laboratories and smart-home warning systems.