An Investigation Into the Effects of Ozone on a Nanoplasmonic Gas Sensor

Abstract

Gas sensing is critical to the continued good health and well-being of humankind. The sensing of NO2 and O3 are of particular importance, due to their negative effects on the respiratory system. Nanoplasmonic sensing is a relatively unexplored method that shows significant potential in gas detection. The nanoplasmonic sensor in this study has already been successful in detecting NO2. However, its behaviour when exposed to O3 has yet to be investigated. Using an experimental approach, it was found that the optimum temperature for O3 sensing was 300°C, and 200°C for NO2 sensing. The detection of 1 ppm NO2 was possible with a constant 20 ppb O3 background, for 2 hour long exposure times. The sensor response to O3 showed rapid kinetics, with peak shifts of up to 2 nm, compared to 0.4 nm for NO2, at the same concentration of 100 ppb. This thesis presents a starting point for a further study of nanoplasmonic sensor behaviour in the presence of these two harmful gases.