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Air quality monitoring has become increasingly important as particulate pollution continues to affect public health, indoor comfort, and environmental safety. The Nova PM Sensor SDS011 stands out for its laser-based detection method, stable digital output, and easy integration with popular microcontrollers. This article will discuss the SDS011 sensor’s working principle, pinout, specifications, applications, and more.
The Nova PM Sensor SDS011 is a laser-based air quality sensor. It is designed to measure particulate matter concentrations, specifically PM2.5 and PM10. These particles are commonly found in dust, smoke, pollen, and air pollution and can have serious effects on human health. The SDS011 is widely used in air monitoring systems because it provides stable and repeatable digital measurements. The SDS011 supports UART serial output and PWM output, making it easy to interface with microcontrollers such as Arduino, ESP8266, and ESP32.
The Nova PM Sensor SDS011 works based on the laser scattering principle to measure airborne particulate matter such as PM2.5 and PM10. As shown in the image, ambient air first enters the sensor through the particle inflow opening. This inflow allows suspended dust and pollution particles to move into the internal sensing chamber in a controlled manner.
Inside the chamber, a built-in fan continuously draws air across the measurement zone and pushes it toward the particle outflow. As particles pass through the chamber, a laser diode emits a focused beam of light. When particles intersect this laser beam, they scatter light in different directions. The scattered light intensity is proportional to the particle size and concentration.
A low-noise amplifier processes the weak electrical signals generated by the photodetection system, ensuring accurate measurement with minimal interference. The sensor’s internal processor then converts this data into digital values representing PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations, which are output via UART or PWM for easy integration with microcontrollers.
| Pin No. | Pin Label | Description |
| 1 | NC / 1 µm | Not connected or reserved for internal use (no external function) |
| 2 | 5V | Power supply input (operates at 5 V DC) |
| 3 | 25 µm | PWM output for particulate matter measurement (PM10) |
| 4 | GND | Ground connection |
| 5 | RX | UART receive pin (used to receive commands from microcontroller) |
| 6 | TX | UART transmit pin (sends PM2.5 and PM10 data to microcontroller) |
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• SEN0177 Laser Dust Sensor
• HPMA115S0 PM Sensor
• GP2Y1010AU0F Dust Smoke Particle Sensor
• DSM501A Dust Sensor
• ZH03B Laser PM Sensor
• OPC-N2 Optical Particle Counter
| Parameter | Specification |
| Output Type | PM2.5, PM10 |
| Measuring Range | 0.0 – 999.9 µg/m³ |
| Operating Voltage | 4.7 V – 5.3 V |
| Maximum Operating Current | 100 mA |
| Sleep Current | ≤ 2 mA |
| Response Time | ≤ 1 second |
| Data Output Frequency | 1 reading per second |
| Particle Diameter Resolution | ≤ 0.3 µm |
| Measurement Error | ±10% |
| Operating Temperature Range | −20 °C to +50 °C |
| Detection Method | Laser scattering |
| Data Interface | UART (PWM output optional) |
| Airflow System | Built-in fan |
| Accuracy & Stability | High consistency, stable readings |
The Nova PM Sensor SDS011 is connected to an Arduino UNO and a 0.96-inch OLED display to build a simple air-quality monitoring system. The Arduino acts as the main controller, receiving particulate matter data from the SDS011 sensor and then displaying the results on the OLED screen in real time.
In this setup, the SDS011 sensor is powered directly from the Arduino’s 5V and GND pins. The sensor communicates with the Arduino using UART serial communication, where the TX pin of the SDS011 connects to the RX pin of the Arduino, and the RX pin of the sensor connects to the TX pin of the Arduino. Through this serial link, the SDS011 continuously sends PM2.5 and PM10 concentration values to the Arduino.
The OLED display is connected using either I²C or SPI, depending on the module type shown. Power for the display is taken from the Arduino’s VCC and GND pins, while the data and clock lines are connected to the corresponding Arduino digital pins. The Arduino processes the incoming particulate data from the SDS011 and formats it so the PM2.5 and PM10 values can be clearly shown on the OLED screen.
• Indoor air quality monitoring systems
• Outdoor air pollution monitoring stations
• Smart home and building automation systems
• IoT-based environmental monitoring projects
• Personal air quality monitors
• Classroom and laboratory air monitoring
• Community and citizen science air quality networks
• HVAC system air quality control
• Industrial and workplace environment monitoring
• Research and data logging applications
| Advantages | Limitations |
| Laser-based detection provides higher accuracy than basic dust sensors | Not suitable for detecting gases (CO₂, VOCs, etc.) |
| Measures both PM2.5 and PM10 simultaneously | Accuracy affected by high humidity and condensation |
| Wide measurement range (0–999.9 µg/m³) | Requires periodic cleaning due to dust buildup |
| Fast response time with real-time updates | Built-in fan produces slight noise |
| Stable and repeatable readings | Size is larger compared to newer PM sensors |
| UART serial output for easy data integration | Operates at 5 V, needs level shifting for some 3.3 V MCUs |
| Built-in fan ensures consistent airflow | Limited lifetime due to laser and fan wear |
| Suitable for DIY, IoT, and monitoring projects | Not a laboratory-grade or reference sensor |
The Nova PM Sensor SDS011 is a reliable and widely adopted solution for measuring PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in both indoor and outdoor environments. Its laser scattering technology, built-in airflow system, and UART communication provide consistent and real-time particulate data suitable for air quality monitoring, smart home systems, and IoT projects. While it is not a laboratory-grade reference sensor and has limitations related to humidity sensitivity and long-term maintenance, it offers an excellent balance of accuracy, cost, and ease of use.
Catalogue
FPGA / CPLD
Memory
MOS 
MCU 
DSP
OCEP
Secondary 
Other