Low-cost gas sensors with polyaniline film for aroma detection

•Detection of different artificial aromas using low cost gas sensors.•The gas sensor presented a relatively fast response with good repeatability and sensitivity.•The detection limit of the gas sensor at aroma was great and presented low hysteresis.•The storage time showed that the sensor sensitivity decreases gradually with the time.

A low-cost gas placement has been designed to detect different artificial fruit aromas (apple, grape and strawberry). The sensors have been developed through polyaniline deposition using in situ polymerization technique on the inter-digitated area of the graphite electrode, which was accomplished using the line-patterning technique over tracing paper substrate. The sensitivity, reversibility, response time, hysteresis and electronic nose system detection limit have all been evaluated using different fruit aromas (apple, grape and strawberry), under controlled temperature and humidity conditions. The sensitivity decreased gradually as the storage period increased. It was possible to notice that the gas sensors presented high sensitivity and reversibility during the three analyzed cycles on apple, grape and strawberry aromas as well as the detection limit that was lower than 0.62 ppm. Therefore, it demonstrated the potential electronic nose systems have using low-cost gas sensors with polyaniline film in the evaluation of commercially prospected aromas.