An Analytical Comparison of the Performance of Various Sensing Materials and Mechanisms for Efficient Detection Capability of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, such as methane (CH 4 ), nitrous oxide (N 2 O), and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), from agricultural practices and land use have increased concerns about global warming. Accurate quantification of the GHG using gas sensors is essential for effective management and sustainable agricultural practices. The objective of this study was to make an analytical comparison of the performance of various sensing materials for CH 4 -, N 2 O-, and CO 2 -based sensors in terms of sensitivity, response ratio, response time, and recovery time to establish an efficiency detection level of the GHG emissions. A literature review of 95 different studies showed that palladium–tin dioxide (Pd-SnO 2 ) nanoparticles, indium oxide (In 2 O 3 ) nanowires, and gold-lanthanum oxide-doped tin dioxide (Au-La 2 O 3 /SnO 2 ) nanofibers had better performance compared to other sensing materials in CH 4 -, N 2 O-, and CO 2 -based sensors, respectively. The findings from reviewed studies revealed that nanoporous structures, nanowires, and nanofibers had faster response and recovery compared to conventional materials due to their big specific surface area (SSA). The designed ternary hybrid structure of sensing materials was more effective for CO 2 gas detection than the double hybrid structure, unlike CH 4 - and N 2 O-based sensors. However, constructive suggestions for researchers were discussed in the conclusion based on the current research status and challenges to improve the performance of GHG sensors.