To meet requirements in air quality monitoring, sensors are required that can measure the concentration of gaseous pollutants at concentrations down to the ppb and ppt levels, while at the same time they exhibiting high sensitivity, selectivity, and short response/recovery times. Among the different sensor types, those employing metal oxide semiconductors (MOSs) offer great promises as they can be manufactured in easy/inexpensive ways, and designed to measure the concentration of a wide range of target gases. MOS sensors rely on the adsorption of target gas molecules on the surface of the sensing material and the consequent capturing of electrons from the conduction band that in turn affects their conductivity. Despite their simplicity and ease of manufacturing, MOS gas sensors are restricted by high limits of detection (LOD; which are typically in the ppm range) as well as poor sensitivity and selectivity. LOD and sensitivity can in principle be addressed by nanostructuring the MOSs, thereby increasing their porosity and surface-to-volume ratio, whereas selectivity can be tailored through their chemical composition. In this paper we provide a critical review of the available techniques for nanostructuring MOSs using chemiresistive materials, and discuss how these can be used to attribute desired properties to the end gas sensors. We start by describing the operating principles of chemiresistive sensors, and key material properties that define their performance. The main part of the paper focuses on the available methods for synthesizing nanostructured MOSs for use in gas sensors. We close by addressing the current needs and provide perspectives for improving sensor performance in ways that can fulfill requirements for air quality monitoring. Graphical abstract

Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting is a promising technology that uses light absorbing semiconductors to convert solar energy directly into a chemical fuel (i.e., hydrogen). PEC water splitting has the potential to become a key technology in achieving a sustainable society, if high solar to fuel energy conversion efficiencies are obtained with earth abundant materials. This review article discusses recent developments and discoveries in the mechanisms by which the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) in metallic nanoparticles can increase or complement a neighbouring semiconductor in light absorption for catalytic water splitting applications. These mechanisms can mitigate the intrinsic optical limitations of semiconductors (e.g., metal oxides) for efficient solar water splitting. We identify four types of enhancement mechanisms in the recent literature: (i) light scattering, (ii) light concentration, (iii) hot electron injection (HEI), and (iv) plasmon-induced resonance energy transfer (PIRET). (i) Light scattering and (ii) light concentration are light trapping mechanisms that can increase the absorption of light with energies above the semiconductor optical band-edge. These two mechanisms are ideal to enhance the absorption of promising semiconductors with narrow bandgap energies that suffer from limited absorption coefficients and bulk charge recombination. On the other hand, (iii) HEI and the recently discovered (iv) PIRET are mechanisms that can enhance the absorption also below the semiconductor optical band-edge. Therefore, HEI and PIRET have the potential to extend the light utilization to visible and near-infrared wavelengths of semiconductors with excellent electrochemical properties, but with large bandgap energies. New techniques and theories that have been developed to elucidate the above mentioned plasmonic mechanisms are presented and discussed for their application in metal oxide photoelectrodes. Finally, other plasmonic and non-plasmonic effects that do not increase the device absorption, but affect the electrochemical properties of the semiconductor (e.g., charge carrier transport) are also discussed, since a complete understanding of these phenomena is fundamental for the design of an efficient plasmonic NP-semiconductor water splitting device.

Household air pollution is ranked the 9(th) largest Global Burden of Disease risk (Forouzanfar et al., The Lancet 2015). People, particularly urban dwellers, typically spend over 90% of their daily time indoors, where levels of air pollution often surpass those of outdoor environments. Indoor air quality (IAQ) standards and approaches for assessment and control of indoor air require measurements of pollutant concentrations and thermal comfort using conventional instruments. However, the outcomes of such measurements are usually averages over long integrated time periods, which become available after the exposure has already occurred. Moreover, conventional monitoring is generally incapable of addressing temporal and spatial heterogeneity of indoor air pollution, or providing information on peak exposures that occur when specific indoor sources are in operation. This article provides a review of new air pollution sensing methods to determine IAQ and discusses how real-time sensing could bring a paradigm shift in controlling the concentration of key air pollutants in billions of urban houses worldwide. We also show that besides the opportunities, challenges still remain in terms of maturing technologies, or data mining and their interpretation. Moreover, we discuss further research and essential development needed to close gaps between what is available today and needed tomorrow. In particular, we demonstrate that awareness of IAQ risks and availability of appropriate regulation are lagging behind the technologies.

The deliquescence and efflorescence relative humidity values of 6- to 60-nm NaCl particles were measured using a tandem nano-Differential Mobility Analyzer. The deliquescence relative humidity (DRH) increased when the dry particle mobility diameter decreased below approximately 40 nm. The efflorescence relative humidity (ERH) similarly increased. For example, the DRH and ERH of 6-nm particles were 87% and 53%, respectively, compared to 75% and 45% for particles larger than 40 nm. Power law fits describing the nanosize effect are: DRH(d _m) = 213 d _m ^−1.6+ 76 and ERH(d _m) = 213 d _m ^−1.65+ 44, which are calibrated for 6 < d _m < 60 nm with less than 1% RH uncertainty and where d _m is the dry particle mobility diameter (nm). Two independent methods were used to generate the aerosol particles, namely by vaporizing and condensing granular sodium chloride and by electrospraying a high-purity sodium chloride aqueous solution, to investigate possible effects of impurities on the results. The DRH and ERH values were the same within experimental uncertainty for the particles generated by the two methods. The physical explanation for the nanosize effect of increasing DRH and ERH for decreasing dry particle mobility diameter is that the free energy balance of NaCl increasingly favors smaller particles (i.e., those without water) because the surface areas and hence surface free energies per particle are less for small, anhydrous particles than for bloated, aqueous particles. [Supplementary materials are available for this article. Go to the publisher's online edition of Aerosol Science and Technology for the following free supplemental resources: Graphs and data of the size distribution measurements of the deliquescence- and the efflorescence-mode experiments of the 6-, 8-, 15-, 20-, 30-, and 60-nm dry mobility diameter particles.]

Literature reports have differed on the possibilities of discontinuous and continuous (i.e., prompt and nonprompt) deliquescence and efflorescence of aerosol particles in the nanosize regime. Experiments reported herein using a hygroscopic tandem nano-differential mobility analyzer demonstrate prompt deliquescence and efflorescence of ammonium sulfate particles having diameters from 6 to 60 nm. Apparent nonpromptness can be induced both by operation of the experimental apparatus and by interpretation of the measurements, even though the underlying phase transitions of individual particles remain prompt. No nanosize effect on the relative humidity values of deliquescence or efflorescence is observed for the studied size range. Smaller hygroscopic growth factors are, however, observed for the nanoparticles, in agreement with thermodynamic calculations that include the Kelvin effect. A slightly nonspherical shape for dry ammonium sulfate particles is inferred from their hygroscopically induced reconstruction between 5 and 30% relative humidity. Our results provide a further understanding of nanoparticle behavior, especially relevant to the growth rates of atmospheric nanoparticles.