Abstract
Environmental pollution caused by rapid industrial growth has increased the demand for efficient gas-sensing technologies capable of real-time monitoring. Detecting hazardous gases such as CO, NO2, NH3, CO2, SO2 and various VOCs is essential for safeguarding human health and ecological systems. Conjugated polymers have gained attention as gas-sensing materials because they can interact with oxidizing and reducing gases at room temperature, leading to measurable electrical changes. However, their low intrinsic conductivity, strong affinity toward VOCs and moisture, and limited long-term stability restrict their practical performance. In this review, we highlight how bio-inspired strategies including molecular recognition concepts, hierarchical surface architectures, adaptive polymer nanocomposite interfaces, and olfaction inspired sensing models offer new ways to enhance sensitivity, selectivity and response speed in CP-based sensors. We also discuss recent advances in hybrid systems, dynamic and stimuli-responsive materials, and neuromorphic approaches that mimic biological learning and pattern recognition. By summarizing these developments, this paper provides a comprehensive overview of how nature-inspired design can guide the creation of next-generation, high-performance conjugated polymer gas sensors.