Sensors based on polymer nanomaterials

Sensor technology has witnessed remarkable progress, achieving ubiquitous integration across diverse sectors such as environmental monitoring, healthcare, and industrial applications. Polymer nanomaterials have emerged as compelling contenders in sensor advancement owing to their distinctive attributes. This abstract emphasizes recent advancements in sensor applications by leveraging polymer nanomaterials as active sensing components. This chapter delves into the utilization of distinct polymer nanomaterial types, including conjugated, nonconjugated, and hybrid variations, benefiting from their significant surface area, customizable physicochemical attributes, biocompatibility, and remarkable molecular wire effect. Our exploratory compilation encompasses synthesis, characterization, and functionalization strategies, highlighting their sensing efficacy and enabling precise identification of target analytes, marked by higher sensitivity and minimal detection thresholds. Moreover, the abstract delineates the array of sensing mechanisms harnessed by polymer nanomaterial–based sensors, encompassing optical and electrochemical transduction pathways. It underscores the significance of nanomaterial morphology and nanostructuring in augmenting sensor performance. It also addresses how environmental variables and analyte interactions impact sensor response. Furthermore, the abstract explores the potential applications of polymer nanomaterial–based sensors, spanning chemosensing, biosensing, optical and electrochemical sensing, and beyond. The chapter also touches upon the challenges and future prospects in the field, such as scalability, reproducibility, and integration into complex systems for real-world applications. In conclusion, this chapter sheds light on the promising advancements in sensor technology facilitated by polymer nanomaterials, fostering their incorporation into innovative sensing devices with the potential to revolutionize various industries and improve the overall quality of life. The continued exploration of these nanomaterials in sensor development holds tremendous promise for addressing the ever-growing demands of modern sensing applications.