Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026

A Sensitive Visual Method for the Detection of Hydrogen Sulfide Producing Bacteria
Published on: June 27, 2022
A Miniaturized Amperometric Hydrogen Sulfide Sensor Applicable for Bad Breath Monitoring
Hithesh K Gatty1, Göran Stemme2, Niclas Roxhed3
1Micro and Nanosystems, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, SE-100 44 Stockholm, Sweden. hithesh@kth.se.
Abstract:
Bad breath or halitosis affects a majority of the population from time to time, causing personal discomfort and social embarrassment. Here, we report on a miniaturized, microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based, amperometric hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) sensor that potentially allows bad breath quantification through a small handheld device. The sensor is designed to detect H₂S gas in the order of parts-per-billion (ppb) and has a measured sensitivity of 0.65 nA/ppb with a response time of 21 s. The sensor was found to be selective to NO and NH₃ gases, which are normally present in the oral breath of adults. The ppb-level detection capability of the integrated sensor, combined with its relatively fast response and high sensitivity to H₂S, makes the sensor potentially applicable for oral breath monitoring.
Related Concept Videos
Breathing
Hydrogen Bonds
Hydrogen Bonds Control the World!
Because hydrogen has very weak electronegativity when it binds with a strongly electronegative atom, such as oxygen or nitrogen, electrons in the bond are unequally shared....
Hydrogen Bonds
Preparation and Reactions of Sulfides
Structure and Nomenclature of Thiols and Sulfides
Mechanism of Breathing I: Inspiration
The respiratory system, an essential network for breathing, comprises the conducting and respiratory zones, each playing a crucial role in the overall process of respiration. Let us explore the detailed mechanism of inspiration, or inhalation, which is the first phase of the respiratory cycle.
Pathway of Air during Inspiration
During inspiration, air enters our body through the nose or mouth and moves through the conducting zone,...

