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Department of Engineering, ICT and Technologies for Energy and Transport Patent Title Sensory system based on metal oxides for the qualitative and quantitative detection of substances, in particular gaseous substances, in an environment. Ref. CNR 10490 Assignee (s): CNR CNR Institute: IMEM Main Inventor: Matteo Tonezzer Countries: IT Priority date: 30/08/2016 Abstract The invention refers to a methodology for the selective detection of gases, their identification both qualitative and quantitative, through the use of a single nanostructured metal oxide. The subject method allows to use conductometric sensors, realized with nanostructures made of a single metal oxide, to detect and recognize the atmosphere around the device. With this methodology it is possible not only to distinguish the target gas which is in the chamber, but also the concentration of the gas itself. Background The analysis of gases in the environment (natural, urban and industrial) is getting more and more important nowadays. For this reason we need miniaturized, cheap sensors capable to detect different gases. The state of the art, both in scientific papers describing this kind of sensor and in real commercial products, are based on arrays of sensors (from a dozen to several tens) made of different materials. Technology The system, consisting of the micro-nanostructured architecture and the data-analysis method, is able to detect the gases in the environment and to predict their concentration thanks to specific “fingerprints” of each gas, previously captured in order to train the device. Advantages and Applications The present invention could have an immediate commercialization in the field because it allows to replace an array of sensors made of different materials (with relative different boundary conditions), with one single metal oxide, low cost and easy to use. Development stage A prototype of sensor fabricated following this methodology has been built and tested, proving to be able to recognize all the target gases used with high precision, both qualitatively and quantitatively. A second, improved prototype is being studied. 55