VOC Sensor SGP40
Sensirion’s Future of MOX Technology
The SGP40 is Sensirion’s new digital VOC (volatile organic compounds) sensor designed for easy integration into air purifiers or demand-controlled ventilation.
SGP40 is Sensirion’s new digital VOC (volatile organic compounds) sensor designed for easy integration into air treatment devices and air quality monitors. Based on Sensirion’s CMOSens® Technology, the SGP40 offers a complete sensor system on a single chip and features a digital I2C interface, a temperature-controlled micro-hotplate and a humidity-compensated indoor air quality signal. In combination with Sensirion’s powerful VOC Algorithm (part of the SGP40 VOC Index driver package), the sensor signal can be directly used to evaluate indoor air quality, e.g., for triggering the gradual fan control of an air treatment device. Both the SGP40 chip and VOC algorithm feature unrivalled robustness in the final application over their lifetimes. Pushing the multipixel and multi-hotplate approach to the next level of individual control of each sensing element, the SGP40 enables a drastic reduction in power consumption, making it suitable for battery-driven applications as well. Sensirion’s state-of-the-art production process guarantees high reproducibility and reliability.
Features
| Interface | I²C | |
| Supply voltage range | 1.7 to 3.6 V | |
| Current consumption | 2.6 to 3.5 mA (at 3.3 or 1.8 V respectively) | |
| Measurement range | 0 to 1,000 ppm of ethanol equivalents | |
| Sensor output | Digital 16-bit raw signal | |
| Processed output | Digital VOC Index signal | |
| Response time | < 10 s (tau 63 %) | |
| Limit of detection | < 0.05 ppm of ethanol equivalents or < 10 % of concentration setpoint (whichever is larger) | |
| Switch-on time | < 60 s | |
| On-chip humidity compensation | Yes |
Applications
- Air purifiers
- Kitchen hoods
- Demand-controlled ventilation
- Thermostats
- Indoor air quality monitoring
Sensor Specifications
| Name | Sensor Output | Device-to-Device Variation | Supply Voltage V | Interface | Package Size (L x W x H) mm | Datasheet | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SGP40 | Digital raw signal, VOC Index1 | < ± 15% m.v.2 | 1.7 to 3.6 V | I2C | 2.44 x 2.44 x 0.85 | Download |  |
1VOC Index is the processed raw signal by Sensirion’s VOC Algorithm.
2Or 15 VOC Index points, whichever is larger.
Key Features
The SGP40 sensor has essential features that help users assess and improve air quality. Down below the three main indicators are listed as well as technology features and their benefits.
| 1. Complete sensor solution for detecting VOC events | 2. Proven performance improved | 3. Reliable and accurate long-term user experience |
|---|---|---|
| Simple interface, powerful VOC Algorithm | 2nd generation | Robust hardware |
| Easy integration of driver package | Low device-to-device variation under field or lab conditions | Stable and repeatable signal output over lifetime |
| Processed signal allows automatically for evaluating indoor air quality relative to average environment | Fast start-up behavior | Smart adaptation to any indoor environment |
Technology and Benefits
| Technology | Benefits |
|---|---|
| Excellent longevity of > 10 years | Reliable sensor hardware |
| VOC Index driver | No signal processing programming by customer required |
| On-chip humidity compensation | Optimal performance in various environments |
| Low heat emission | Enhanced precision of RH&T readings, less backgrounds |
| Small footprint | Fits into every device |
| High sensitivity to almost all VOCs | Broadband sensor that reacts well to typical VOCs |
Average power consumption down to 2.6 mA/6 mW | Suitable for battery-powered devices |
| Voltage range of 1.7–3.6 V | Suitable for both mobile and hardwired devices |
| Digital I2C interface | Best performance-to-price ratio |
Typical MOX Sensors vs. SGP40
| User Experience | Typical MOX Sensor | SGP40 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent device-to-device variation in the field |  |  | ||
| Differentiation between fresh air and bad air events | | | ||
| Output independent on sensor age, starting conditions and environment | | | ||
| Reliable and stable sensor signal over lifetime (> 10 years) | | | ||
Start Evaluating the SGP40 Today
The SEK-SVM40 evaluation kit has been designed for easy and cost-efficient evaluation of Sensirion’s SGP40 VOC sensor. The kit contains the SVM40 sensor module and is equipped with an SGP40, an SHT40 humidity sensor and a microcontroller featuring VOC Index, relative humidity and temperature outputs via either an I2C or UART interface.
In addition to the SVM40, the SEK-SVM40 comes with a UART-USB cable that allows, e.g., for evaluation of the sensors by Sensirion’s easy-to-use SEK-ControlCenter viewer software as well as a 6-pin jumper wire cable that enables fast prototyping, e.g., through integration into existing platforms (like Arduino, Raspberry Pi, etc.).
More information (documentation, drivers, tutorials, etc.) can be found here: www.sensirion.com/my-sgp-ek
Compile your own environmental sensing evaluation kit at: www.sensirion.com/sek
Indoor Air Quality and Volatile Organic Compounds
Good air quality in our living and working environments is becoming increasingly important because most people nowadays spend 90% of their time indoors. VOCs are one of the main contributors to bad air quality, and awareness of them among individuals and governments has been increasing. Modern building materials and methods result in better insulation, and thus improved energy efficiency, but they also limit air exchange with the outside world and hence lead to higher VOC concentrations indoors. Exposure to high and/or hazardous levels of VOCs can be avoided by appropriate ventilation or by identifying and eliminating the pollution source. Sensirion’s SGP40 is a broad-band VOC sensor which reliably detects high-VOC events. When built into an air quality monitor, it allows users to identify the sources of such events and take appropriate action. Integrated into smart air treatment devices, it enables automatic, demand-controlled operation.
Sensirion’s powerful VOC Algorithm (part of the SGP40 VOC Index driver package) analyzes VOC events detected by the SGP40 sensor and maps them to a VOC Index. This VOC Index provides a practical quantification of VOC events relative to each individual sensor’s typical indoor environment. In this way, it behaves similarly to the human nose, which is highly susceptible to changes in odor, but it also detects VOC events that are not perceived by humans. The VOC Index indicates to what extent the indoor air quality has deteriorated or improved compared to the sensor’s typical VOC environment. This information can be used, e.g., for gradually controlling the fan of an air treatment device or to provide users with feedback on their daily activity profile.
Unique Performance Thanks to MOXSens® Technology
The sensing principle of the SGP is based on a heated film of metal-oxide (MOx) nanoparticles. Adsorbed oxygen on the metal-oxide particles reacts with the target gas and thereby releases electrons. This results in a change of the electrical resistance of the metal-oxide layer that is measured by the sensor.
The SGP multi-pixel gas sensor platform integrates four sensing elements − the pixels – into one small DFN package. Using Sensirion’s CMOSens® Technology, the SGP offers a complete sensor system on a single chip featuring a digital I2C interface, a temperature-controlled microhotplate, as well as preprocessed and calibrated indoor air quality signals.
Optimized metal-oxide sensing materials in combination with Sensirion’s multi-pixel gas measurement platform result in a unique resistance against contamination by siloxanes – MOXSens® Technology. Sensirion’s MOXSens® Technology enables highly sensitive and reliable gas measurements of indoor air pollutants such as volatile organic compounds and hydrogen.
Environmental Sensing
Environmental conditions have a major impact on our well-being, comfort, and productivity. Sensirion’s sensor solutions provide detailed and reliable data on key environmental parameters such as humidity, temperature, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), particulate matter (PM2.5), and CO2. Environmental Sensing opens up new possibilities to create smarter devices that improve our comfort and well-being as well as increase energy efficiency in a wide variety of applications.
We accompany you through the entire product development process, from the initial idea to product launch and beyond. Our expertise ranges from prototype construction, design-in support and use-case development to inline testing at the mass production stage.
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