Detection of VOCs and their concentrations by a single SnO2 sensor using kinetic information

We report a novel kinetic approach to identify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and to determine their concentrations with a single SnO2 gas sensor. Traditional array-based electronic noses usually rely on the saturation level of the response between target molecules and sensing materials, and our approach is kinetic based. It is more straightforward and simpler than traditional pattern recognition systems. An effective algorithm is developed for this system. The algorithm can identify chemicals with high accuracy regardless of their concentrations, and it is able to estimate the concentrations of the analytes. It reduces the complexity of hardware as well as software in traditional array-based electronic nose systems.