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Project 05

Handheld Nitrogen Dioxide Detector

A pocket-sized NO₂ detector built around a novel IGZO thin-film transistor sensor, with an integrated diaphragm pump, sealed sampling chamber, signal conditioning and UV regeneration, resolving well below the OSHA 5 ppm limit.

Noxious Fumes

NOx gases are a family of pollutants produced primarily by automotive combustion and industrial processes such as open-cast mining and coal burning. According to OSHA, the permissible exposure limit for nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) is 5 parts per million. This device features a novel thin-film transistor sensor utilizing an Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide (IGZO) dielectric layer for selective detection of NO₂. It is a fully enclosed unit that integrates a diaphragm pump, signal conditioning circuitry, and a dedicated gas sampling chamber. The chamber houses the sensor and a UV LED, which is used to purge and regenerate the sensor after exposure.