Wearable Ammonia Gas Sensor Developed by Indian Scientists

Indian scientists developed a portable, self-powered and wearable ammonia sensing device on 14 July 2026. The device was developed at the Centre for Nano and Soft Matter Sciences (CeNS), Bengaluru, an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and it detects ammonia at concentrations as low as 319 parts per billion (ppb).

Ammonia as an Industrial and Environmental Gas

Ammonia is a colourless gas with the chemical formula NH3. It is used in fertilisers, refrigeration, chemical manufacturing and several industrial processes. Exposure to high concentrations of ammonia can affect the eyes, skin and respiratory system.

Working Principle of the Sensor

The sensor uses a hybrid vanadium oxide-vanadium sulfide (VOx/VS2) heterostructure. A heterostructure is a material system formed by joining two different semiconducting or functional layers, and such combinations are used in sensors, electronics and optoelectronic devices. The device operates at room temperature, which is a standard laboratory and ambient condition of about 20 to 25 degrees Celsius. Many conventional gas sensors require elevated temperatures and higher energy input for operation.

Wearable and Flexible Platforms

Researchers fabricated flexible versions of the sensor on polymer, paper and textile substrates. These substrates allow the device to function when bent, twisted or folded, which is a key feature in wearable electronics. Prototypes include smart bands, smart-home warning systems and electronic textile platforms. A portable threshold-triggered monitoring system classifies ammonia levels into safe, warning and danger zones for immediate alerts.

Important Facts for Exams

• CeNS, Bengaluru, functions as an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology.
• ACS Sensors is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes research on sensing materials, devices and analytical methods.
• Parts per billion (ppb) is a unit used to measure very low concentrations of gases and pollutants.
• Wearable sensors are used in personal safety monitoring, health tracking and environmental sensing.

Research Team and Performance Features

The research team was led by Prof. Angappane Subramanian and included Dr. Vishnu G. Nath, Ankur Verma, Abhijit Paul and Dr. Subash Cherumannil Karumuthil. The sensor shows selectivity against other common gases, stable operation over repeated sensing cycles and long-term reliability exceeding ten weeks.

Static GK on Gas Sensors

Gas sensors are devices that detect the presence or concentration of gases in air. Common sensing technologies include semiconductor metal-oxide sensors, electrochemical sensors, optical sensors and nanomaterial-based sensors. Ammonia sensing is relevant in agriculture, industry, laboratories and indoor safety systems. Flexible electronics and textile-based sensors are part of the wider field of wearable technology.