Technical report on

Comparative study on Gas Sensor

Paper Name: Internet of Things

Paper Code: OECAIML701A
Semester: 7th

Submitted By
Soumya Panja
University Roll No.: 34230820017
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
(Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning)
Table of Contents
1. Abstract ..................................................................................................................................................................... 1
2. Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................. 1
3. Gas Sensor ................................................................................................................................................................. 1
3.1. Types of Gas Sensor .......................................................................................................................................... 1
3.2. Construction of Gas Sensor ............................................................................................................................... 2
3.3. Working of Gas Sensor ...................................................................................................................................... 2
3.4. List of Different Types of Gas Sensors and What Gases They Sense ................................................................ 4
3.5. Advantages and Disadvantages ........................................................................................................................ 4
3.5.1. Advantages ................................................................................................................................................ 4
3.5.2. Disadvantages ........................................................................................................................................... 5
3.6. Applications of Gas Sensor................................................................................................................................ 5
4. Conclusion ................................................................................................................................................................. 5
5. References ................................................................................................................................................................ 5
1. Abstract
Gas sensors are critical components used in a wide range of applications across industries to detect and measure gases
in the environment. They operate on various principles, such as chemical reactions, physical properties, and optics, to
provide accurate gas concentration data. This report provides an in-depth exploration of gas sensors, their types,
working principles, applications, and emerging trends. The report categorizes gas sensors into chemical, physical,
optical, catalytic, solid-state, and gas chromatographic sensors, outlining the unique mechanisms behind each type. It
explains the working principles of gas sensors and how they convert gas interactions into measurable signals.

2. Introduction
A typical human nose has 400 types of scent receptors enabling us to smell about 1 trillion different odours. But still
many of us do not have the capacity to identify the type or concentration of gas present in our atmosphere. This is
where Sensors comes in, there are many types of sensors to measure different parameters and a Gas sensor is one
which comes handy in applications where we have to detect the variation in the concentration of toxic gases in order
to maintain the system safe and avoid/caution any unexpected threats. There are various gas sensors to detect gases
like oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen, methane etc. They can also be commonly found in devices that are used to
detect the leakage of the harmful gases, monitor the air quality in industries and offices etc. [1]

In this report, we will explore more about gas sensors, their construction, types, working and how they can be used to
measure the required type and concentration of Gas in our atmosphere. There are many types of Gas sensors but the
MQ type gas sensors are commonly used and widely popular so will focus more on these types of sensors for this
article. [1]

3. Gas Sensor
A gas sensor is a device which detects the presence or concentration of gases in the atmosphere. Based on the
concentration of the gas the sensor produces a corresponding potential difference by changing the resistance of the
material inside the sensor, which can be measured as output voltage. Based on this voltage value the type and
concentration of the gas can be estimated. [1]

Figure 1 Gas Sensor. [2]

3.1. Types of Gas Sensor

Gas sensors are typically classified into various types based on the type of the sensing element it is built with.
Below is the classification of the various types of gas sensors based on the sensing element that are generally used
in various applications: [1]

1
• Metal Oxide based gas Sensor.
• Optical gas Sensor.
• Electrochemical gas Sensor.
• Capacitance-based gas Sensor.
• Calorimetric gas Sensor.
• Acoustic based gas Sensor.

3.2. Construction of Gas Sensor

Of all the above-listed types, the most commonly used gas sensor is the Metal oxide semiconductor-based gas
sensor. All Gas sensors will consist of a sensing element which comprises of the following parts.

• Gas sensing layer: It is the main component in the sensor which can be used to sense the variation in the
concentration of the gases and generate the change in electrical resistance. The gas sensing layer is basically a
chemiresistor which changes its resistance value based on the
• The concentration of particular gas in the environment. Here the sensing element is made up of a Tin Dioxide
(SnO2) which is, in general, has excess electrons (donor element). So whenever toxic gases are being detected
the resistance of the element changes and the current flown through it varies which represents the change in
concentration of the gases.
• Heater coil: The purpose of the heater coil is to burn-in the sensing element so that the sensitivity and
efficiency of the sensing element increases. It is made of Nickel-Chromium which has a high melting point so
that it can stay heated up without getting melted.
• Electrode line: As the sensing element produces a very small current when the gas is detected it is more
important to maintain the efficiency of carrying those small currents. So Platinum wires come into play where
it helps in moving the electrons efficiently.
• Electrode: It is a junction where the output of the sensing layer is connected to the Electrode line. So that the
output current can flow to the required terminal. An electrode here is made of Gold (Au –Aurum) which is a
very good conductor.
• Tubular ceramic: In between the Heater coil and Gas sensing layer, the tubular ceramic exists which is made of
Aluminium oxide (Al2O3). As it has high melting point, it helps in maintaining the burn-in (preheating) of the
sensing layer which gives the high sensitivity for the sensing layer to get efficient output current.
• Mesh over the sensing element: In order to protect the sensing elements and the setup, a metal mesh is used
over it, which is also used to avoid/hold the dust particles entering into the mesh and prevent damaging the
gas sensing layer from corrosive particles.

Figure 2: Parts of metal oxide gas sensor. [3]

3.3. Working of Gas Sensor

The ability of a Gas sensor to detect gases depends on the chemiresister to conduct current. The most commonly
used chemiresistor is Tin Dioxide (SnO2) which is an n-type semiconductor that has free electrons (also called as
donor). Normally the atmosphere will contain more oxygen than combustible gases. The oxygen particles attract
the free electrons present in SnO2 which pushes them to the surface of the SnO2. As there are no free electrons
available output current will be zero. The below gif shown the oxygen molecules (blue colour) attracting the free
electrons (black colour) inside the SnO2 and preventing it from having free electrons to conduct current.

2
 Figure 3: Working step - 1. [4]

Figure 4: Working setp-2. [4]

Figure 5: Working setp-3. [4]

Figure 6: Working setp-4. [4]

Figure 7: Working setp-5. [4]

When the sensor is placed in the toxic or combustible gases environment, this reducing gas (orange color)
reacts with the adsorbed oxygen particles and breaks the chemical bond between oxygen and free electrons
thus releasing the free electrons. As the free electrons are back to its initial position they can now conduct

3
 current, this conduction will be proportional the amount of free electrons available in SnO2, if the gas is highly
toxic more free electrons will be available.

Figure 8: Circuit Diagram of gas sensor in gas sensor module. [5]

3.4. List of Different Types of Gas Sensors and What Gases They Sense
Table 1: List of types of gas sensors.

Sensor Name Gas to measure

MQ-2 Methane, Butane, LPG, Smoke
MQ-3 Alcohol, Ethanol, Smoke
MQ-4 Methane, CNG Gas
MQ-5 Natural gas, LPG
MQ-6 LPG, butane
MQ-7 Carbon Monoxide
MQ-8 Hydrogen Gas
MQ-9 Carbon Monoxide, flammable gasses
MQ131 Ozone
MQ135 Air Quality
MQ136 Hydrogen Sulphide gas
MQ137 Ammonia
Benzene, Toluene, Alcohol, Propane, Formaldehyde
MQ138
gas, Hydrogen
MQ214 Methane, Natural Gas
MQ216 Natural gas, Coal Gas
MQ303A Alcohol, Ethanol, smoke
MQ306A LPG, butane
MQ307A Carbon Monoxide
MQ309A Carbon Monoxide, flammable gas

3.5. Advantages and Disadvantages

3.5.1. Advantages
• Early Warning: Gas sensors provide early warning of the presence of harmful or flammable gases,
allowing for timely intervention and preventing accidents.
• Safety: They enhance safety by monitoring potentially hazardous gas levels in industrial settings, homes,
and public spaces.
• Environmental Monitoring: Gas sensors are used to monitor air quality and detect pollutants, helping to
protect the environment and public health.
• Efficiency: In industrial processes, gas sensors can optimize operations by ensuring the right gas mixtures,
reducing waste, and improving energy efficiency.
• Real-time Data: Many gas sensors offer real-time data, allowing for immediate response in critical
situations.

4
 • Small Size: Miniaturized gas sensors can be integrated into wearable devices, smartphones, and IoT
devices, enabling personal safety and air quality monitoring.
• Low Power Consumption: Some gas sensors are designed to operate on low power, making them suitable
for battery-powered applications.

3.5.2. Disadvantages
• Calibration: Gas sensors require regular calibration to maintain accuracy, which can be time-consuming
and may require specialized equipment.
• Cross-Sensitivity: Many gas sensors are sensitive to multiple gases, leading to potential interference and
false readings in complex environments.
• Limited Specificity: Some gas sensors have limited specificity and may not distinguish between gases with
similar properties.
• Drift: Over time, gas sensors can drift, leading to inaccurate readings if not properly maintained.
• Cost: High-quality gas sensors can be expensive, particularly those designed for specialized applications or
extreme conditions.
• Limited Lifespan: Gas sensors have a finite lifespan and may require replacement after a certain number
of hours or exposure to harsh conditions.
• Response Time: Some gas sensors have a slow response time, which may not be suitable for applications
requiring rapid detection.
• Maintenance: Routine maintenance, including cleaning and replacement of components, is necessary to
ensure long-term reliability.
• Environmental Factors: Environmental conditions, such as temperature and humidity, can affect the
performance of gas sensors, requiring additional compensation or correction.

3.6. Applications of Gas Sensor

• Used in industries to monitor the concentration of the toxic gases.
• Used in households to detect an emergency incident.
• Used at oil rig locations to monitor the concentration of the gases those are released.
• Used at hotels to avoid customers from smoking.
• Used in air quality check at offices.
• Used in air conditioners to monitor the CO2 levels.
• Used in detecting fire.
• Used to check concentration of gases in mines.
• Breath analyser.

4. Conclusion
Gas sensors are indispensable tools for safety, environmental monitoring, and industrial processes. With ongoing
research and development, these sensors are becoming more sophisticated, compact, and integrated with emerging
technologies, paving the way for even more accurate and versatile gas detection solutions across various domains.
Understanding the working principles and applications of gas sensors is essential for harnessing their potential in
addressing complex challenges related to gas detection and analysis. As technology advances, gas sensors continue to
play an integral role in enhancing safety, environmental sustainability, and industrial efficiency across multiple sectors.

5. References

[1] “Components101,” [Online]. Available: https://components101.com/articles/introduction-to-gas-sensors-types-

working-and-applications.

[2] “Components101,” [Online]. Available: https://components101.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/MQ-6-Gas-

Sensor.jpg.

5
[3] “Components101,” [Online]. Available: https://components101.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Sensing-
Element-in-Gas-Sensor.JPG.

[4] “Components101,” [Online]. Available: https://components101.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Gas-

Sensor-Working-Principle.gif.

[5] “Components101,” [Online]. Available: https://components101.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Gas-

Sensor-Module-Circuit-Diagram.png.