Interplay of textiles and gold nanoparticles for NH3 detection

Ammonia detection is of particular interest in breath monitoring due to its diagnostic potential, being linked to several gastric, hepatic, renal, and pulmonary diseases. However, breath samples are particularly complex and extracting the required information is a challenge. Standard equipment and existing sampling methods contain several drawbacks that need to be overcome. Here, we investigate a novel room-temperature gas sensor technology based on the use of cotton and gold nanoparticles as an alternative, simple, and inexpensive tool for ammonia detection. Fabrication and characterization steps of the textile sensor are described in detail. The preliminary results of our feasibility study show fast and repeatable sensor response when the sensor is exposed to 23% ammonia in a background of dry nitrogen.