Wireless Self-Powered High-Performance Integrated Nanostructured-Gas-Sensor Network for Future Smart Homes

Abstract

The accelerated evolution of communication platforms including Internet of Things (IoT) and the 5th generation (5G) wireless communication network makes it possible to build intelligent gas sensor networks to monitor the chemical safety of our surroundings and personal health in real time. However, this application scenario requires a very challenging combination of characteristics of gas sensors including small formfactor, low-cost, ultra-low power consumption, superior sensitivity, and high intelligence. Herein, we demonstrate self-powered integrated nanostructured-gas-sensor (SINGOR) systems and a wirelessly connected SINGOR network for the first time. The SINGOR features ultra-high sensitivity to H2, formaldehyde, toluene, and acetone with the record low limits of detection (LOD) of 10 ppb, 2 ppb, 1 ppb and 1 ppb, respectively, obtained under room temperature sensor operation. Therefore, ultra-low power consumption of 68.6 μW at sensor level and 1.71 mW at the system level has been achieved. As the result, an individual SINGOR system can be self-driven by indoor light with a Si solar cell. Furthermore, each SINGOR consists of an array of nanostructured sensors powered by machine learning algorithm and thus a SINGOR has the capability of gas pattern recognition and classification. And multiple SINGOR systems are wirelessly connected together to form a sensor network for smart home application demonstrations. Intriguingly, the sensor network has successfully demonstrated flammable gas leakage detection and alarm function when they are deployed in multiple rooms. And when the SINGOR network is deployed in one single room, it can achieve gas leakage localization with satisfactory precision. These successes open up the possibility of using nanostructured-gas-sensor network for wide range applications including smart home, smart building and future smart city.