Introduction: Role of Materials in Sensors for Water Pollutants Monitoring

Abstract

Water is a vital for the existence of any form of life on earth. However, the current century is witnessing the declining groundwater level as well as increased pollution of water resources. Both these challenges require utmost global attention to ensure safe and enough water supply to every human being as a fundamental human right. Sensors has a critical say to monitor the quality of available water as well to prevent its contamination by anthropogenic activities. They can be used as a tool by regulatory bodies in policy making as well as decision for selection of necessary remedial systems for water pollutants. Most of the conventional as well as emerging organic, inorganic, and biological pollutants has a life-threatening impact on the ecosystem, which necessitates the serious and periodical water quality monitoring. This monogram at first introduces these pollutants and their health effect. We further discuss the various existing analytical tools for water pollutants detection. The transduction techniques as well as materials role to achieve desired sensitivity and selectivity of sensor are discussed in the chapter dedicated for plasmonic sensors, electrical sensors, colorimetric, fluorescent chemo-sensors, electrochemical sensors, biosensors, nucleic acid-based sensors, etc. Finally, we deliberate the futuristic development to be taken up for reliable and field level detection of these pollutants in reference to technique and material selection.