Over recent decades, nanomaterials have shown significant potential for use in developing sensors for environmental monitoring. Single units of these materials are measured in thousandth-millions of a metre. When working at this scale it is possible to construct highly sensitive sensors.

This DCU led review describes how nanomaterials are being used to develop electrochemical sensing platforms for analysing air pollution, water quality, soil nutrients, and soil pathogens. 

In particular, we discuss the use of nanofabrication techniques such as molecular imprinting, hydrogenation, and 3D printing in the fabrication of high-sensitive electrodes. The study examines recent applications of mobile, disposable, wearable, implantable, and self-powered electrochemical sensors for monitoring ions, particles, compounds, nutrients, microorganisms, and contaminants in real environmental samples. 

Finally, we look ahead to opportunities and challenges in nanofabrication of high-performance electrochemical sensors and optimizing their performance in testing real samples