Sensirion Introduces New VOC+NOx Gas Sensor SGP41

     Sensirion introduces a VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and NOx (Nitrogen Oxide Compounds) gas sensor: SGP41, which is designed as a digital smart switch and regulation unit for use in air treatment equipment such as air purifiers, fresh air fans, kitchens range hood, etc.).

     There are many potential and common hazards in indoor air, such as VOCs commonly found in building materials, furniture and cleaning products, and NOx, a by-product of gas stove combustion. Exposure to these contaminants can be limited by ensuring adequate ventilation in enclosed spaces. In addition, air handling equipment can be used to eliminate harmful gases from indoor environments, thereby avoiding unhealthy conditions.

     Integrated with Sensirion's new gas sensor SGP41, the air purifier is able to reliably monitor VOC and NOx at all times and automatically remove these gaseous emissions when the appropriate filter is installed. The graph below is based on triggering NOx events in an apartment room: the gray bars represent the trend in NOx levels when the air purifier is not ventilated or used; the green bars represent the reduction in NOx levels with the use of the air purifier. With the Sensirion gas sensor SGP41, the air purifier is able to monitor indoor NOx conditions at all times and automatically adjust the device through the digital smart switch function.

     Thanks to Sensirion's powerful gas index algorithm, the two gas sensing signals are processed by the algorithm, which can directly and automatically trigger the air treatment equipment to remove the polluted gas, without the need for the user to interact with the equipment. Therefore, this new sensor solution is ideal for continuous monitoring of VOCs and NOx, including potentially harmful environments that are imperceptible to humans. In addition, SGP41-based air handling equipment has automatic controls that shut down as soon as VOC and/or NOx issues are addressed, helping to save energy.

     The SGP41 integrates two complete sensing functions into a single chip, thereby reducing the difficulty and cost of system design. Housed in a DFN package, the SGP41 is very small and compact (2.44mm x 2.44mm x 0.85mm) for applications where space is limited. The multi-pixel sensing element of the SGP41 offers unmatched reliability, long-term stability, and low drift against polluting gases in real-life environments. Sensirion's advanced manufacturing process guarantees a high degree of reproducibility and reliability.

     "The gas sensor platform is capable of measuring both VOC and NOx, thus responding to the quest for good indoor air quality and more stringent requirements for a variety of environmental monitoring applications. Sensirion aims to further improve indoor air quality and help protect with the SGP41 our environment, improving human health and well-being,” said Dr. Oliver Martin, Product Manager Gas Sensors at Sensirion.