Onur Alev, Michael Cheffena
Gas sensors have been extensively studied due to increasing demand in various fields, including environmental monitoring, industrial safety, healthcare, and agriculture. Despite significant progress, there remains a need for the development of new-generation materials to improve sensor performance. One of the most effective approaches is the use of advanced sensing materials that react with target gas molecules. In recent years, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) have proven their functionality in gas sensing due to their highly specific recognition sites within a robust polymer matrix, synthesized through a lock-and-key polymerization strategy. The imprinted cavities in the polymer structure match the size, shape, and functional group orientation of the target analyte, allowing the sensors to distinguish between structurally similar molecules, which significantly reduces cross-interference and enhances reliability. However, compared with more established competitors in the gas detection field, MIP materials are still in their infancy with respect to their variety, functionality, and in-depth characterization. This review first discusses the current state and achievements of MIP materials in gas sensing applications, focusing on both material fabrication and the transducers used. Second, a comparison with other sensing materials aims to understand the reasons for their relative performance. Finally, we discuss the challenges, new trends, and possible routes for MIP-based gas sensing. Consequently, this review aims to provide a holistic view to guide the future development of MIPs in gas sensing applications.