The PeroGaS project aims to design and develop novel sensors for gaseous air pollutants (CO2, CO, O3, NOx and SOx), which can be integrated into the Internet of Things.

PeroGaS proposes the development of an innovative sensing composite material consisting of all-inorganic metal halide perovskite crystals that are conjugated to reduced graphene oxide (rGO). This sensing material will be deposited directly onto rGO laser-fabricated interdigitated electrodes.

Since the best performing perovskite materials are currently based on Pb, our primary goal will be to develop lead-free perovskites to mitigate the possible toxicity issues related to the use of Pb. At the same time, the electrodes will be environmentally sustainable, as they will be based on rGO rather than indium tin oxide (ITO) or noble metals.

The suggested sensing elements are solution processable, therefore compatible with printed electronics concepts, including the direct growth and/or an easy deposition of the materials onto substrates which can be also flexible (e.g. PET, cellulose).

An important challenge of PeroGaS will be to develop and exploit lead-free graphene-perovskites conjugates for gas detection.

A second challenge will be to address gas selectivity, a major breakthrough in sensor technology, which has only been achieved to date using arrays of different materials. For this purpose, by using Stimulated Raman Scattering we will identify the specific vibrational features of the targeted gases (air pollutants) through light modulation. This technique can quantify the contribution of the adsorbed gases to the generated electrical signal, thus “calibrating” the sensor.

At the end of this project, we aim to fabricate a prototype “nano” gas sensor, adaptable to smart/portable devices, which can be used to monitor the quality of breathing air in homes and cities.