Real-Time UV Monitoring Using an IoT-Enabled NbSe2–MoSe2–ZnO Sensor for Smartphone Application

Real-time monitoring of ultraviolet (UV) radiation is critical for health, agriculture, and ecosystem management, yet current sensors often lack sensitivity and seamless cloud connectivity. To overcome these limitations, we introduce a fully integrated Internet of Things UV-monitoring platform built around an NbSe₂–MoSe₂–ZnO hybrid nanomaterial on a Silicon substrate. This architecture synergistically combines the high carrier mobility of 2-D TMDCs with the robust wide-bandgap photoresponse of ZnO. The hybrid sensor exhibits exceptional UV sensitivity (Ip/Id ≈ 1.3×10³) and responsivity (1.68 A/W), surpassing traditional ZnO- or TMDC-only devices. Integrated with an ESP32 microcontroller, Firebase Realtime Database logging, and a custom smartphone app, our system provides low-power, scalable, remote UV-index tracking—empowering individuals and agencies to make proactive, data-driven decisions in real time, capabilities that static or offline sensors cannot offer.