2026, Vol. 6, Issue 1, Part A
Long-term stability assessment of metal oxide gas sensors for industrial air quality monitoring
Author(s): Ahmed Hassan, Fatima El-Sayed, Mohamed Ibrahim and Nour Abdel-Rahman
Abstract: Industrial air quality monitoring demands gas sensors that maintain accurate detection over extended deployment periods under challenging environmental conditions. This research evaluated long-term stability and performance characteristics of four metal oxide semiconductor gas sensor configurations: tin dioxide (SnO₂) uncoated, tin dioxide with platinum catalyst, zinc oxide (ZnO), and tungsten trioxide (WO₃). Sensors were subjected to accelerated aging protocols simulating 8,000 hours of continuous industrial operation while monitoring sensitivity, response time, selectivity, and baseline drift. Uncoated SnO₂ sensors exhibited sensitivity degradation to 68% of initial value after simulated end-of-life, with platinum-catalyzed variants maintaining 82% sensitivity under identical conditions. ZnO sensors demonstrated poorest stability at 58% retention while WO₃ achieved 76% retention with superior selectivity for nitrogen dioxide detection. Response time analysis revealed platinum-catalyzed SnO₂ achieving 6-second t₉₀ for carbon monoxide compared to 12 seconds for uncoated variants, representing 50% improvement in detection speed. Cross-sensitivity measurements identified significant interference patterns: SnO₂ sensors showed 3.2:1 selectivity ratio between CO and CH₄, improving to 8.5:1 with platinum catalysis. Operating condition optimization established 250-300°C temperature range with 30-50% relative humidity as optimal for balanced sensitivity and stability. Cost analysis revealed platinum-catalyzed sensors commanding 340% price premium but delivering 2.1× operational lifetime, yielding 38% lower cost-per-operating-hour for industrial deployments. These findings establish quantitative selection criteria enabling specification of gas sensor technology based on target gas, required lifetime, and acceptable maintenance intervals for industrial monitoring applications.
DOI: 10.22271/27084493.2026.v6.i1a.86
Pages: 57-62 | Views: 34 | Downloads: 13
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How to cite this article:
Ahmed Hassan, Fatima El-Sayed, Mohamed Ibrahim, Nour Abdel-Rahman. Long-term stability assessment of metal oxide gas sensors for industrial air quality monitoring. Int J Electron Microcircuits 2026;6(1):57-62. DOI: 10.22271/27084493.2026.v6.i1a.86
