From Gas Sensors to Efficient Electronic Nose Systems: A Bibliometric Analysis to Short Survey

Sensor-based gas analysis has been the subject of much research, particularly in the development of electronic nose (e-nose) systems. E-noses are based on chemical sensors to detect and analyze volatile organic compounds, and thus play an important role in a variety of fields. In this paper, based on three research strings, we have performed a bibliometric analysis to examine current trends and scientific contributions in the field of sensors for detecting odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), their use in electronic nose systems, work to improve their performance and their optimization. Using the Scopus database and English-language documents published between 2014 and 2024, we identify the most prolific authors, countries and journals in these fields. After that, a short literature review provides a detailed overview of the strategies to improve e-noses selectivity and reduce their drift. The results of the bibliometric analysis show a growing intercontinental interest, with strong scientific activity in China, the United States, India and Italy, with a particularly strong focus on performance improvement and sensor optimization. The short survey reveals the existence of a wide range of gas sensors with their advantages and disadvantages, significant advances in improving the performance of sensors and electronic noses, as well as new challenges that deserve attention.