Green Limerick: Wearable sensors detect harmful gas

A TEAM at a research centre, which is often hosted by the University of Limerick (UL) and the Technological University of the Shannon: Midland West (TUS), have created a transformative sensor to improve the quality of life for humans.

A transdisciplinary team of AMBER and CRANN researchers from the School of Chemistry at University College Cork (UCC) and the School of Physics at Trinity College Dublin (TCD) have developed wearable sensors that alert people to the presence of harmful gas in the air.

CRANN stands for Centre for Research on Adaptive Nanostructures and Nanodevices, and is often hosted by UL and TUS.

“Poor air quality can significantly impact health, ecosystems, and overall quality of life,” a spokesperson on the team said.

“Therefore, it is essential to maintain good air quality for the well-being of humans, the environment, and economic prosperity,” they added.

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One hazardous gas that seriously threatens health is nitrogen dioxide (NO2). NO2 is released into the atmosphere through fuel combustion, industrial emissions, gas cooking, and other sources.

NO2 poses serious risks to human health, leading to short-term symptoms such as breathing difficulties and long-term respiratory issues with prolonged exposure.

Regulatory agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the European Commission, have established exposure limits for NO2 to address these health concerns.

While significant advancements have been made in gas sensor technology over the past two decades, challenges remain related to real-time monitoring, room temperature operation, sensitivity and selectivity.

Most NO2 sensors are impractical for integration into wearable technology.

Current methods for measuring NO2 often require expensive instrumentation, highlighting the need to develop low-cost sensor technologies for broader-scale monitoring of this critical pollutant.

AMBER Researcher and Deputy Director Professor Justin Holmes of the School of Chemistry UCC said: "At AMBER, we are actively developing 2D material networks.

“Through multi- disciplinary collaboration, we aim to leverage their flexibility, affordability, and transparency to enhance wearable technologies for real-time air quality monitoring and advanced sensing in smartwatches, clothing, and beyond.”

Recent extensive wildfires on the West Coast of the United States, most recently Los Angeles and at a European level in Croatia, Portugal, Greece, Spain, Italy, and Algeria in 2023 have highlighted the need for monitoring dangerous gas in the air following the damage caused by fire.

There is a growing need for low-cost scalable technology, such as air monitors for individuals, as our atmosphere “knows no borders or boundaries”.

AMBER is the Research Ireland (formerly Science Foundation Ireland) Centre for Advanced Materials and BioEngineering Research. The centre joins leading academics in the industry.

Working collaboratively and in this instance, with CRANN, they develop new materials and devices for the ICT, medical devices, energy, and sustainable industrial technology sectors.