About this Research Topic
Optical sensors are well-established devices for the monitoring of gas traces. One of the main challenges for optical sensing is the accurate detection of multiple components in a complex gas matrix for several applications. In the petrochemical industry, the measurement of methane, ethane, and propane concentrations in natural gas represent a powerful tool to predict production outputs, estimate reserves and assess raw material quality of source rocks and reservoirs. The concentration of many pollutants (e.g., ammonia and nitrous oxide) is increasing in ambient air due to agriculture. The detection of these pollutants could help in finding solutions to reduce the environmental impact of this sector. Finally, the analysis of human breath composition could help in diagnosing and preventing many diseases: e.g., the concentration of nitric oxide in breath can be used as a marker to recognize patients affected by asthma and other respiratory diseases.
This Research Topic in Frontiers in Chemistry and Frontiers in Environmental Health will focus on all aspects of the research and development related to the detection of multiple components in complex gas matrix with optical sensors. In this field of research, one of the most important topics is the selectivity, i.e., the ability to both discriminate a specific target from the surrounding molecules and provide a target-specific response. This property is important to recognize the contributions of each analyte in a gas mixture and calibrate the sensor with respect to the different gas concentrations. Furthermore, it is necessary to investigate the sensitivity of each component at different gas mixture compositions. Due to possible interference, the response of a specific target could depend on the concentration of other analytes in the mixture, thus influencing the detection limits. Finally, the accuracy of the concentration measurement could vary due to different composition of the gas matrix.
We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:
• Analysis of the natural gas composition for petrochemical applications
• Study of the ambient air components in polluted areas
• Investigation of human breath composition for the diagnosis of diseases
• Detection of multiple components in the same gas mixture through innovative algorithms
• Development of innovative sensing architecture for the analysis of gas samples
• Implementation of optical sensors for the detection of multiple components in complex gas mixtures
• Application of integrated optics for the detection of multiple components in gas mixtures
• Emerging trend in miniaturization of optical devices based on on-chip
• Integration optical gas sensors based on new materials such as group IV elements, namely silicon, germanium and their compounds
• Detection techniques based on mid-infrared absorption spectroscopy
• Gas detection techniques based on tunable diode laser spectroscopy
This Research Topic in Frontiers in Chemistry and Frontiers in Environmental Health will focus on all aspects of the research and development related to the detection of multiple components in complex gas matrix with optical sensors. In this field of research, one of the most important topics is the selectivity, i.e., the ability to both discriminate a specific target from the surrounding molecules and provide a target-specific response. This property is important to recognize the contributions of each analyte in a gas mixture and calibrate the sensor with respect to the different gas concentrations. Furthermore, it is necessary to investigate the sensitivity of each component at different gas mixture compositions. Due to possible interference, the response of a specific target could depend on the concentration of other analytes in the mixture, thus influencing the detection limits. Finally, the accuracy of the concentration measurement could vary due to different composition of the gas matrix.
We welcome Original Research, Review, Mini Review and Perspective articles on themes including, but not limited to:
• Analysis of the natural gas composition for petrochemical applications
• Study of the ambient air components in polluted areas
• Investigation of human breath composition for the diagnosis of diseases
• Detection of multiple components in the same gas mixture through innovative algorithms
• Development of innovative sensing architecture for the analysis of gas samples
• Implementation of optical sensors for the detection of multiple components in complex gas mixtures
• Application of integrated optics for the detection of multiple components in gas mixtures
• Emerging trend in miniaturization of optical devices based on on-chip
• Integration optical gas sensors based on new materials such as group IV elements, namely silicon, germanium and their compounds
• Detection techniques based on mid-infrared absorption spectroscopy
• Gas detection techniques based on tunable diode laser spectroscopy
Keywords: optical sensing, multi-gas detection, complex gas matrix, gas sensing, natural gas, environmental monitoring, breath analysis
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
