Metal Oxide Semiconductor Gas Sensors for Exhaled Breath Cancer Biomarker Detection

Authors

• Guang-Lan Chen, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
• Hui-Hui Luo, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
• Wen-Wen Peng, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
• Shi-Yu Xu, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
• Yu-Ting Li, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
• Hui-Jie Ke, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
• Si-Hui Zhong, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
• Jia-Ao Wei, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
• Tong Chen, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China
• Xiao-Kun Li, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, ChinaFollow
• You-Lin Zhang, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, ChinaFollow
• Wei Chen, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, ChinaFollow

Corresponding Author

Xiao-Kun Li ([email protected]);
You-Lin Zhang ([email protected]);
Wei Chen ([email protected])

Abstract

Early cancer screening can significantly improve therapeutic outcomes, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other related gases in exhaled breath, as cancer-specific biomarkers, offer a novel approach for non-invasive diagnosis. Metal oxide semiconductor (MOS)-based gas sensors are pivotal for exhaled breath VOCs detection, featuring compact size, cost-effectiveness, and rapid response. This review summarizes the most recent five-year research advances in cancer biomarker detection, and clarifies the core mechanisms of electrical property changes from sensing material-VOCs interactions and key performance metrics including sensitivity, selectivity, humidity tolerance, response/recovery time, stability, and operating temperature. This review also highlights the optimization strategies of sensing materials such as metal doping, surface modification, heterostructure fabrication, and metal oxide-carrier composite synthesis to enhance trace detection, selectivity, and stability via expanded specific surface area, the introduction of active sites and interfacial charge transfer modulation. Finally, this review outlines sensor arrays integrated with machine learning for precise cancer recognition. This review provides theoretical support for the performance optimization and clinical translation of MOS sensors, and facilitates their widespread application in the non-invasive early diagnosis of cancers.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

MOS Sensor, Exhaled Breath Analysis, Cancer Biomarker, Detection Performance, volatile organic compound

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.61558/2993-074X.3623

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Publication Date

2026-10-28

Online Available Date

2026-08-23

Revised Date

2026-07-05

Received Date

2026-02-22

Recommended Citation

Guang-Lan Chen, Hui-Hui Luo, Wen-Wen Peng, Shi-Yu Xu, Yu-Ting Li, Hui-Jie Ke, Si-Hui Zhong, Jia-Ao Wei, Tong Chen, Xiao-Kun Li, You-Lin Zhang, Wei Chen. Metal Oxide Semiconductor Gas Sensors for Exhaled Breath Cancer Biomarker Detection[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2026, 32(10): 2417005.
DOI: 10.61558/2993-074X.3623
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol32/iss10/2