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Bio-Inspired Nanoengineered Wood for Scalable Monolithic Gas Sensor Fabrication
Mingwei Gu1, Yihong Zhong2, Jing Hu3
1Institute of Mechanical and Electric Engineering, Jiangsu Province Key Laboratory of Embodied Intelligence Robotics Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, P. R. China.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|July 2, 2025
Summary
Researchers developed a novel nanoengineered wood sensor inspired by insect olfaction. This wood-based sensor offers highly sensitive, room-temperature nitrogen dioxide detection with potential for scalable manufacturing and wearable devices.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Sensor Technology
Background:
- Insect olfactory systems utilize porous sensilla and sensory receptors for efficient gas detection.
- Developing sensitive and selective gas sensors remains a significant challenge in environmental monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design a scalable, bio-inspired gas sensor structure using nanoengineered wood functionalized with tungsten disulfide (WS₂).
- To mimic insect olfactory mechanisms for enhanced gas transmission and capture for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) detection.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of WS₂-functionalized nanoengineered wood (WS₂-NEW) with vertically aligned microchannels via lignin removal.
- Integration of WS₂ nanosheets and a cross-sectional 3D interdigital electrode structure.
- Characterization of gas adsorption, charge transfer, and sensor performance for NO₂.
Main Results:
- WS₂-NEW demonstrated selective NO₂ adsorption and optimized charge transfer.
- Achieved highly sensitive NO₂ detection at room temperature with a limit of detection as low as 50 ppb.
- Showcased potential for large-scale manufacturing and integration into wearable sensor watches.
Conclusions:
- The developed WS₂-NEW offers an innovative, scalable strategy for manufacturing high-performance gas sensors.
- Bio-inspired design principles can be effectively applied to create advanced sensing materials.
- The technology holds promise for real-time environmental monitoring and wearable applications.
