[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”2em||0px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_heading title=”Nanocomposite Materials for Environmental Monitoring” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_css_free_form=”selector h1 {|| text-wrap: pretty;||}” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.alicat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Lanscape_workers_staring_at_factory.webp” title_text=”Lanscape_workers_staring_at_factory” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.27.5″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”1.5rem||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ custom_css_free_form=”selector img {|| object-fit: contain;||}” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” module_id=”article-hero-image” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_divider color=”#2A3B47″ divider_weight=”2.5px” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” height=”0px” custom_margin=”3rem||3rem||true|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||0px||true|false” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_heading title=”Summary” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||2rem||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#000000″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_heading title=”Environmental monitoring” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_heading _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.alicat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/Environmental_urbanfumes_638px.webp” alt=”Urban fumes environmental air monitoring mass flow controllers” title_text=”Environmental_urbanfumes_638px” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” width_tablet=”” width_phone=”” width_last_edited=”on|phone” max_width=”50%” max_width_tablet=”50%” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”||2rem|2rem|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”||2rem|2rem|false|false” custom_padding_phone=”||2rem|0rem|false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element=”float: right;” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_css_main_element_phone=”float: none;” custom_css_main_element_tablet=”float: right;” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||2rem||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]The growth of manufacturing and production has led to more pollutants and hazardous chemicals being released, raising concerns for human and environmental health.<\/p>\n
As a result, environmental monitoring has become increasingly important. By tracking air quality and pollutants, agencies and governments can make informed decisions to protect both urban and natural systems. Monitoring gases like nitrogen dioxide (NO2<\/sub>), carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH4<\/sub>), and ammonia (NH3<\/sub>) helps assess air quality and its effects on public health. In water systems, checking for contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, antibiotics, and phenolic compounds, helps prevent long-term risks to biodiversity and water security.<\/p>\n To address these challenges, sensing devices have been deployed across air, water, and soil systems. These sensors can detect low levels of pollutants and, in some cases, provide continuous real-time data to support policy, guide industry, and promote sustainable development. However, current technologies still face major limitations. Many are too expensive, too specialized, or too fragile for large-scale use. This has created a strong need for new sensing platforms that are more sensitive, selective, and adaptable.<\/p>\n In this context, nanomaterials—particularly MXenes—are transforming what environmental monitoring can achieve.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Chemiresistive gas sensing ” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||2rem||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Chemiresistive gas sensors work by absorbing gas molecules that alter their electrical resistance. These shifts can be measured and translated into data tracking gas concentrations over time,\u00a0 A network of chemiresistive sensors can provide accurate readings across a wide range of gases and are affordable enough for use in many commercial and industrial settings.<\/p>\n Despite their promise, chemiresistive sensors face longevity challenges. Their performance often depends on environmental factors such as humidity and temperature, which can cause signal drift or reduce accuracy. Many also suffer from limited selectivity, responding to multiple gases in similar ways, and can degrade over time due to surface contamination or material instability. These issues make their applicability limited by operational lifespan, maintenance needs, or calibration costs, particularly in continuous or large-scale monitoring systems.<\/p>\n To overcome these limitations, researchers are exploring nanomaterials that enhance key sensor properties by increasing surface area, improving conductivity, and introducing catalytic activity.<\/p>\n Among these materials, MXenes have become a particularly promising choice. They are thin, two-dimensional layers of metal carbides or nitrides that conduct electricity well and have surfaces that easily attract gas molecules. When these molecules attach to the surface, the MXene’s resistance changes—making it useful as a chemiresistive sensor.<\/p>\n MXenes can also be combined with other materials to make sensors more stable and selective. For example, coatings like titanium dioxide can protect MXenes from oxidation, maintain conductivity, and even add photocatalytic self-cleaning properties. These hybrid designs last longer and perform better, making MXene-based sensors more practical for continuous air-quality monitoring.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”Calibrating sensors in the lab” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.alicat.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/kc-coda-controller-prod-300×300.webp” alt=”Alicat CODA Coriolis Low Flow Mass Flow Controller” align_tablet=”” align_phone=”center” align_last_edited=”on|phone” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”50%” max_width_tablet=”50%” max_width_phone=”100%” max_width_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|2rem|2rem||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|2rem|2rem||false|false” custom_padding_phone=”|0rem|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element=”float: left;” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_css_main_element_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_main_element_phone=”float: none;” custom_css_main_element_tablet=”float: left;” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||2rem||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Before new sensing materials such as nanocomposites and MXenes can be applied in real-world environments, they must undergo rigorous laboratory testing. Controlled testing is essential to verify performance under different conditions and ensure that improvements in sensitivity, selectivity, and stability are both measurable and reproducible.<\/p>\n Researchers typically expose sensors to known concentrations of target gases at various pressures and flow rates, then analyze how the materials respond. Even minor fluctuations in gas delivery can affect results, making precision and repeatability critical for credible data.<\/p>\n To achieve this level of control, university researchers used an Alicat®<\/sup> Scientific CODA\u2122 Coriolis mass flow controller<\/a> to deliver precisely regulated gas flows during calibration and testing. The CODA provided stable, repeatable delivery of gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrogen dioxide at concentrations between 10 and 500 ppm and pressures up to 15 MPa.<\/p>\n Its material compatibility and high-pressure tolerance enabled safe, reliable operation under demanding test conditions. This allowed researchers to confirm that the sensors maintained stable performance in environments comparable to those found in real-world monitoring systems.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_heading title=”The future of environmental monitoring” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_level=”h3″ custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_heading][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”||2rem||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Nanomaterials such as MXenes, carbon-based materials, and metal oxides are opening the door to advanced environmental sensing. Yet no single material offers a complete solution. Each has strengths and weaknesses, which is why researchers are increasingly developing hybrid designs that combine materials to balance conductivity, stability, and selectivity.<\/p>\n