ZNO NANOBALLS ON POROUS SILICON: A BREAKTHROUGH IN HIGHLY SENSITIVE NO2 SENSING

Abstract

In the contemporary era, escalating environmental pollution, stemming from human activities and negligence towards pollution control, has rendered our surroundings perilous. The synergy of rapid industrial development and an improved quality of life has led to an upsurge in toxic gases, particularly greenhouse gases, precipitating global climate change. Among these hazardous gases, ammonia (NH3), carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen monoxide (NO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pose substantial health risks to human beings, with NO2 standing out as the most menacing air pollutant, capable of inducing respiratory, cardiovascular, and pulmonary diseases even at low concentrations. The established threshold limit values (TLV) and ceiling limits (CL) for NO2 underscore the imperative to precisely detect ppm-level concentrations to safeguard human health and preserve environmental quality. This study underscores the critical need for high-performance sensors capable of operating near room temperature, consuming minimal electric power, and exhibiting sensitivity to low concentrations of NO2, all while adhering to the principles of cost-effectiveness and environmental friendliness. In this context, the pursuit of low-cost and environmentally sustainable sensor technologies becomes paramount, offering a viable solution to detect hazardous gases and contribute to the ongoing efforts for environmental preservation and public health protection