Sulphur pollutant emissions recognition by a multi-transducer platform associated with sensitive graphenic nanocomposites materials

• Grant number: 25/05125-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2026
• End date: January 31, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Materials and Metallurgical Engineering - Nonmetallic Materials
• Principal Investigator: Valmor Roberto Mastelaro
• Grantee: Valmor Roberto Mastelaro
• Principal researcher abroad: BRUNET Jerome
• Institution abroad: Université Clermont Auvergne (UCA) , France
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: São Carlos
• Associated researchers: Bruno Sanches de Lima ; Maria Inês Basso Bernardi ; Waldir Avansi Junior

Abstract

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 6.7 million deaths annually can be attributed to the combined effects of ambient and household air pollution, compared to water pollution, which contributes to 1.4 million deaths. In the last decade, the remediation methods aiming to decrease gaseous pollutant concentrations in the atmosphere have only a small impact, and the degradation of air quality is still manifest. Air pollution cannot be restrained to environmental trouble but also must be considered as a real public health problem generating expensive health fees. Amongst all the atmospheric pollutants present in outdoor, indoor as well as in industrial environments, sulphur pollutants (hydrogen sulphide - H2S and sulphur dioxide - SO2) especially requires a drastic and constant monitoring to ensure public and worker's safety. Nauseating pollutant at low concentrations (few ppb), hydrogen sulphide (H2S) causes olfactory nerve paralysis and anosmia for [50-150] ppb concentration range, leads to losses of consciousness from 500 ppm, becomes lethal higher than 1000 ppm and make the atmosphere explosive if concentration exceeds 4% in air. Taking into consideration the high toxicity and the high level of dangerousness of sulphur pollutants, as well as the olfactory pollution caused, hydrogen sulphide and sulphur dioxide measurements remain of prime importance for environmental agencies, risk prevention division of industries, and citizen health prevention. Because of their high potential of integration to electronic devices or clothes, their low-power consumption, their high degree of mobility, and their easy implementation, use, and maintenance, microsensors can be considered as the best complementary solution for applications not satisfied by samplers or gas analysers. Taking into consideration the great toxicity of these pollutants on health and environment, the final objective of our project is to develop highly sensitive, robust, integrated, low-power consumption and easy-implemented micro-sensors dedicated to selective measurement of SO2 and H2S with high resolution for citizen protection, industrial plants and workers'. (AU)