Quantification of Ethanol by Metal-Oxide-Based Resistive Sensors: A Review

Ethanol is widely used in preparing alcoholic beverages, thermometers, perfumes, flavorings, colorings, and medicines. Ethanol sensors are mainly used in biofuel plants and breweries to quantify ethanol concentrations through infrared spectral studies as well as in forensics and direct alcohol fuel cells. This overview discusses the various materials and methods used in the determination of ethanol concentrations in sensing applications using resistance-based measurements. A comprehensive view of the different nanomaterials that have been studied is provided, with an outlook on the shortcomings as well as merits of the material architectures. Statistical methods of interpreting sensing performance are analyzed as well, through which possibilities for improving the adaptability of materials towards their end use is projected.