Skip to Content

Printed Thin Film Ammonia Gas Sensor

red-curve

Printed Thin Film Ammonia Gas Sensor

Detecting Ammonia at ppm-Level and High Relative Humidity

According to the World Heath Organization 10% of the world population is affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD) and millions die of it annually. Elevated levels of ammonia (NH) and trimethylamine (TMA) in breath can be an indication of CKD, which may be treatable at an early stage. In contrast to blood panels detecting ammonia by a breathalyzer is less invasive and self tests can be performed at home. Typical ammonia levels are in a range of 0.5 ppm to 10 ppm and need to be detected at a relative humidity of 90%. Ammonia breath sensors need to be inert to exhaled oxygen, nitrogen and carbon-dioxide.

Highlights
  • Breathalyzer with single use ammonia detector strips conceptualized
  • Ammonia (NH3) and Trimethylamine (TMA) sensitive Polyaniline (PANI) films with interdigitated electrodes on PET substrates demonstrated
  • Prototype sensor electronics and software developed
  • 1 to 10 ppm +/- 0.5 ppm detection of Ammonia at 90% relative humidity
  • Typical sensor response time of 30 seconds
  • High slectivity between NH3 and TMA with distinct dopants
  • No sensitivity to oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon-dioxide

Detecting Ammonia at ppm-Level and High Relative Humidity

According to the World Heath Organization 10% of the world population is affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD) and millions die of it annually. Elevated levels of ammonia (NH) and trimethylamine (TMA) in breath can be an indication of CKD, which may be treatable at an early stage. In contrast to blood panels detecting ammonia by a breathalyzer is less invasive and self tests can be performed at home. Typical ammonia levels are in a range of 0.5 ppm to 10 ppm and need to be detected at a relative humidity of 90%. Ammonia breath sensors need to be inert to exhaled oxygen, nitrogen and carbon-dioxide.

Highlights
  • Breathalyzer with single use ammonia detector strips conceptualized
  • Ammonia (NH3) and Trimethylamine (TMA) sensitive Polyaniline (PANI) films with interdigitated electrodes on PET substrates demonstrated
  • Prototype sensor electronics and software developed
  • 1 to 10 ppm +/- 0.5 ppm detection of Ammonia at 90% relative humidity
  • Typical sensor response time of 30 seconds
  • High slectivity between NH3 and TMA with distinct dopants
  • No sensitivity to oxygen, nitrogen, and carbon-dioxide