Gas Sensing With Aerogels: A Critical Review on Structure-Property Correlations and Performance Optimization

Gas sensing technology has significant applications in environmental monitoring, industrial safety, and disease diagnosis. Aerogel has become a key material for building high-performance gas sensors through engineering design such as heterostructure construction and component compositing, with its high specific surface area, three-dimensional interconnection network structure and rich interface characteristics. Nevertheless, the intrinsic structure property correlation of control aerogel gas sensors has not been systematically evaluated, and the key review of current performance optimization strategies remain inadequate. This paper systematically reviews the research progress of various aerogels in the field of gas sensing, with a focus on sensing aerogels including metal oxide semiconductors, sulfide semiconductors, and carbon‑based materials, as well as their sensing mechanisms. We systematically benchmark their sensing performance toward target analytes, such as nitrogen oxides, ammonia gas, and aldehydes. Subsequently, we systematically decipher the inherent links between key structural parameters (specific surface area, pore size distribution etc.) and core sensing metrics (sensitivity, selectivity, and response/recovery kinetics). Finally, this paper looks ahead to key challenges including establishing quantitative structure-property relationships, improving environmental stability, engineering selectivity, and scaling up manufacturing, aiming to provide a unified research framework for the rational design and practical application of high‑performance gas‑sensitive aerogels.