Metal Oxide Semiconductor Gas Sensors for Exhaled Breath Cancer Biomarker Detection

Authors

• Guanglan Chen, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China.
• Huihui Luo, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China.
• Wenwen Peng, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China.
• Shiyu Xu, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China.
• Yuting Li, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China.
• Huijie Ke, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China.
• Sihui Zhong, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China.
• Jiaao 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.
• Xiaokun Li, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China.Follow
• Youlin Zhang, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China.Follow
• Wei Chen, School of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangxi Normal University, Guilin 541004, China.Follow

Document Type

Review

Corresponding Author(s)

Xiaokun Li([email protected]);
Youlin 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 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, active sites introduction, 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 Biomarkers, Detection Performance, volatile organic compounds

DOI

10.61558/2993-074X.3623

Online Date

8-23-2026

Recommended Citation

Guanglan Chen, Huihui Luo, Wenwen Peng, Shiyu Xu, Yuting Li, Huijie Ke, Sihui Zhong, Jiaao Wei, Tong Chen, Xiaokun Li, Youlin Zhang, Wei Chen. Metal Oxide Semiconductor Gas Sensors for Exhaled Breath Cancer Biomarker Detection[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, doi: 10.61558/2993-074X.3623.