Real-Time Tunable Gas Sensing Platform Based on SnO Nanoparticles Activated by Blue Micro-Light-Emitting Diodes.

Micro-light-emitting diodes (μLEDs) have gained significant interest as an activation source for gas sensors owing to their advantages, including room temperature operation and low power consumption. However, despite these benefits, challenges still exist such as a limited range of detectable gases and slow response. In this study, we present a blue μLED-integrated light-activated gas sensor array based on SnO nanoparticles (NPs) that exhibit excellent sensitivity, tunable selectivity, and rapid detection with micro-watt level power consumption. The optimal power for μLED is observed at the highest gas response, supported by finite-difference time-domain simulation. Additionally, we first report the visible light-activated selective detection of reducing gases using noble metal-decorated SnO NPs. The noble metals induce catalytic interaction with reducing gases, clearly distinguishing NH, H, and CHOH. Real-time gas monitoring based on a fully hardware-implemented light-activated sensing array was demonstrated, opening up new avenues for advancements in light-activated electronic nose technologies.