Metal oxide heterostructure towards gas sensing of trimethylamine: recent progress and challenges

Gas sensors based on metal oxide heterostructures (MOHs) are popular due to their low cost, sensitivity, and eco-friendly production. MOHs significantly improve trimethylamine (TMA) detection sensor performance in different food analyses. These improvements stem from their capability to enhance reaction efficiency, elevate adsorption potential, and create a region with reduced charge carriers. The synergistic effects of these factors collectively enhance the sensor's sensitivity, selectivity, and signal transmission efficiency. However, challenges still need to be addressed, including potential material migration at the junctions, manufacturing process reproducibility, and sensing layer stability. This review highlighted the significant role of MOHs in chemical sensing, with a particular emphasis on their application in detecting TMA for food quality analysis. This review explored the growth and interfacial characteristics of MOHs-based sensors of TMA, aiming to bridge the gap between laboratory research and practical applications. Additionally, we surveyed the mechanisms and impact of different MOHs on the performance of TMA sensors in food analysis, providing insights into their effectiveness and real-world implementation. Furthermore, the role of microfluidic sensors and the significance of artificial intelligence were explored to improve the significant factors in detecting toxic gases and monitoring environmental health quality. Integrating AI and microfluidic technologies could enhance real-time calibration and detection accuracy, addressing these limitations. Future work could be focused on improving sensor design and environmental resilience to ensure the broader use of MOH sensors in food safety and environmental monitoring.