Nanostructured oxide-based selective gas sensor arrays for chemical monitoring and medical diagnostics in isolated environments.

MoO3 and MoO3-WO3-based resistive type sensors/arrays have been used for the detection of toxic gaseous compounds important to environmental monitoring and to medical diagnostics. The responses of the sensing elements when exposed to 400 ppm of methanol, 10 ppm of isoprene, and 15 ppm of ammonia at temperatures between 400 degrees C and 500 degrees C have been assessed. A correlation was made between the crystallography of the nanostructured oxide sensing films and their relative gas selectivity to the analytes of interest. Arrays of selective sensing elements are proposed as valuable tools for the survival of humans in isolated environments and for space exploration.