Enhanced gas sensor based on nitrogen-vacancy graphene nanoribbons

► We study the nitrogen-vacancy zigzag graphene nanoribbons (NV-ZGNRs) as gas sensors. ► The results show that the NV-ZGNRs are very sensitive to the gas molecules. ► The absorbed gas molecules lead to sharp resonant or anti-resonant dips. ► Each kind of gas molecule can be detected by unique resonant transmission profiles.