India, July 5 -- image credit- shutterstock

Scientists from Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, an autonomous institute of Department of Science and Technology (DST), have fabricated a sensor by combining two metal oxides- nickel oxide (NiO) and neodymium nickelate (NdNiO3), through a simple synthesis process.

While NiO acts as the receptor for the gas, NdNiO3serves as the transducer that efficiently transmits the signal, enabling detection at concentrations as low as 320 ppb, far surpassing the sensitivity of many commercial sensors.

The new low-cost sensor can help detect toxic sulfur dioxide (SO2) gas responsible for respiratory irritation, asthma attacks, and long-term lung damage, at extremely low concentra...