Solid state gas sensors: state of the art and future activities

This paper gives an overview about the principles and the technologies used in solid-state gas sensors. These devices work by measuring a physical property changed by adsorption/desorption processes and chemical reactions on the surface of a sensing element, i.e. a solid-state film of a gas-sensitive material. Some of the most used types of solid state gas sensors arc: here described together with novel sensor technologies in development for commercial exploitation in the future.