World's first gas sensor to apply a new principle for graphene use

Fujitsu Laboratories today announced the world's first successful development of an exquisitely sensitive gas sensor based on a new principle that takes advantage of graphene, a material in which carbon atoms are arranged in a sheet one atom thick. This development paves the way for compact instruments that can measure specific gas components with speed and sensitivity, for detecting atmospheric pollution or testing for organically derived gases in a person's breath. Fujitsu Laboratories has developed a gas sensor that operates on a new principle, in which the gate part of a silicon transistor is replaced by graphene. This sensor can detect concentrations lower than tens of parts per billion (ppb) of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and ammonia (NH3); with nitrogen dioxide in particular, sensitivity has improved more than tenfold, to less than 1 ppb. This technology is expected to enable real-time measurements of air quality, which may have taken tens of hours depending upon the gas being measured. It will also simplify detection of gas components in breath, which can be used to quickly discover lifestyle diseases.