Researchers at the University of Adelaide have developed a simple, low-cost prototype sensor that quickly and easily detects small amounts of methanol in breath. This is a step toward developing a “methanol breathalyzer” to efficiently diagnose poisonings.
The team formulated a specialized electrically conductive ink that combined a zirconium-based metal-organic framework (MOF) and graphene. They then 3D-printed the ink onto a ceramic, creating the sensor. A machine created artificial breath by blending dry air with humid air containing methanol and then mimicked blowing the breath into a chamber containing the sensor. The prototype detected methanol at concentrations as low as 50 parts per billion (below the levels found in breath during methanol poisoning) and maintained its stability and performance after several repeated sensing cycles.
Initially, the sensor struggled to differentiate methanol and ethanol in a breath-like environment. Therefore, the team used statistical analysis and a trained machine learning algorithm to distinguish the gases. These artificial intelligence tools allowed the sensor to detect methanol at parts-per-billion and ethanol at parts-per-million concentrations.
This work describes the first step toward using graphene and MOFs to detect methanol in air. The researchers say further development is needed to distinguish between methanol and ethanol in the higher humidity of exhaled breath before an easy, simple life-saving methanol breathalyzer device becomes a reality.
This approach represents an advancement in gas sensing technologies, offering a scalable, cost-effective solution for applications in medical diagnostics, industrial monitoring, and consumer safety. This research highlights the potential of extrusion-printed hybrid materials in advancing gas sensing technologies to enhance public health and safety.
