A Novel Thin‐Film Copper Array Based on an Organic/Inorganic Sensor Hybrid: Microfabrication,Potentiometric Characterization,and Flow‐Injection Analysis Application

A first step towards the microfabrication of a thin‐film array based on an organic/inorganic sensor hybrid has been realized. The inorganic microsensor part incorporates a sensor membrane based on a chalcogenide glass material (Cu‐Ag‐As‐Se) prepared by pulsed laser deposition technique (PLD) combined with an PVC organic membrane‐based organic microsensor part that includes an o‐xylyene bis(N,N‐diisobutyl‐dithiocarbamate) ionophore. Both types of materials have been electrochemically evaluated as sensing materials for copper(II) ions. The integrated hybrid sensor array based on these sensing materials provides a linear Nernstian response covering the range 1×10^?6–1×10^?1 mol L^?1 of copper(II) ion concentration with a fast, reliable and reproducible response. The merit offered by the new type of thin‐film hybrid array includes the high selectivity feature of the organic membrane‐based thin‐film microsensor part in addition to the high stability of the inorganic thin‐film microsensor part. Moreover, the thin‐film sensor hybrid has been successfully applied in flow‐injection analysis (FIA) for the determination of copper(II) ions using a miniaturized home‐made flow‐through cell. Realization of the organic/inorganic thin‐film sensor hybrid array facilitates the development of a promising sophisticated electronic tongue for recognition and classification of various liquid media.     

Colorimetric Fluoride‐Anion Sensor Based on Intramolecular Hydrogen Bonding and Enol–Keto Tautomerization of a Phenothiazine Derivative

A colorimetric sensor for fluoride ions based on a new sensing mechanism is reported. The colorimetric sensor contains an isomerizable enol–keto moiety as the recognition site and phenothiazine as chromogenic center. A color change visible to the naked eye is observed upon addition of fluoride ions to the solution of sensor 1 in aprotic solvents such as CHCl₃ and MeCN. The sensor shows no colorimetric response for other halide ions. Enol‐keto tautomerization is proposed to be responsible for the anion sensing of 1 , based on UV/VIS absorption, ¹H‐NMR, and single‐crystal structure analysis.     

Surface‐Imprinting Sensor Based on Carbon Nanotubes/Graphene Composite for Determination of Bovine Serum Albumin

A novel molecularly imprinted sensor was firstly prepared based on a carbon nanotubes/graphene composite modified carbon electrode (MIPs/CNT/GP/CE) for the selective determination of bovine serum albumin. The molecularly imprinted sensor was tested by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) to investigate the relationship between the response current and bovine serum albumin concentration. The results showed that a wide linear range (1.0×10^?4 to 1.0×10^?10 g mL^?1) for the detection of bovine serum albumin with a low detection limit of 6.2×10^?11 g mL^?1 for S/N=3 was obtained. The novel imprinted sensor exhibited high selectivity, sensitivity, and reproducibility, which provided an applicable way for sensor development.     

Influence of Analyte Flow Rate on Signal and Response Time of the Amperometric Gas Sensor with Nafion Membrane

This paper presents results of an investigation on influence of volumetric flow rate on the signal and response time of a prototype of sulfur dioxide gas sensor with Nafion membrane. The sensors differing in type of working electrode and composition of internal electrolyte were compared. We used Au and Pt working electrodes obtained via vacuum sublimation deposition on a Nafion membrane surface. The electrolytes were aqueous solutions of sulfuric acid of the summary concentration 5 mol dm^?3 (electrolyte A). The electrolyte B contained an addition of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO); the water/DMSO molar ratio was 2 : 1. Based on a proposed equation, which takes diffusion resistance into account, the obtained sensor signals were analyzed for the flow rate within a range of 0–100 cm³ min^?1. The sensor response time was also determined for the above flow rate range.     

Adaptive Supramolecular Networks: Emergent Sensing from Complex Systems

Molecular differentiation by supramolecular sensors is typically achieved through sensor arrays, relying on the pattern recognition responses of large panels of isolated sensing elements. Here we report a new one-pot systems chemistry approach to differential sensing in biological solutions. We constructed an adaptive network of three cross-assembling sensor elements with diverse analyte-binding and photophysical properties. This robust sensing approach exploits complex interconnected sensor-sensor and sensor-analyte equilibria, producing emergent supramolecular and photophysical responses unique to each analyte. We characterize the basic mechanisms by which an adaptive network responds to analytes. The inherently data-rich responses of an adaptive network discriminate among very closely related proteins and protein mixtures without relying on designed protein recognition elements. We show that a single adaptive sensing solution provides better analyte discrimination using fewer response observations than a sensor array built from the same components. We also show the network's ability to adapt and respond to changing biological solutions over time.     

Molecularly Imprinted Photonic Polymers as Sensing Elements for the Creation of Cross‐Reactive Sensor Arrays

By combining molecular imprinting and colloidal crystal templating, molecularly imprinted inverse‐opal photonic polymers (MIPPs) acting as sensing elements have been exploited to create sensor arrays for the first time. With this new strategy, abundant sensing elements with differential sensing abilities were easily accessible. Because of the unique hierarchical porous structure integrated in each sensing element, high sensitivity and selectivity, fast response and self‐reporting (label‐free) detection could be simultaneously achieved. All these fascinating features indicate that MIPPs are ideal sensing elements for creating sensor arrays. By integrating the individual sensing elements on a substrate, the formed array chip delivers better portability and high‐throughput capability. As a demonstration, six kinds of contaminants were selected as analytes. The detection and discrimination of these analytes and even their mixtures in a wide range of concentrations, particularly trace amounts of analyte against a high background of other components, could be achieved, indicating the powerful capability of MIPPs‐based sensor array for sensing. These results suggest that the described strategy opens a new route for sensor array creation and should find important applications in a wide range of areas.     

Development of a chemical vapor sensor using piezoelectric quartz crystals with coated unusual lipids

Piezoelectric quartz crystal sensors were developed using lipids with various properties for highly sensitive detection of chemical vapors. Lipids with varying lengths of alkyl chains were coated onto 10 MHz AT-cut quartz crystal resonators and the response of these modified crystals to chemical vapors were measured. It was shown that hydrophilic compounds, such as ethanol and methanol, could be recognized efficiently by lipids having shorter alkyl chains, whereas lipids with longer alkyl chains showed affinity to more hydrophobic vapors, such as toluene, hexane and cyclohexane. Frequency changes caused by adsorption of alcohols could be enhanced when cholesterol was co-immobilized in the lipid layer. To confirm the assumption that the sensor-response might be affected by the properties of lipids derived from acyl chains, we have examined the effects of two types of newly synthesized unusual lipids on sensor response. When lipids having one triple bond each at different positions on their alkyl chains were coated onto quartz crystals separately, lower responses were observed compared to responses obtained for a sensor with immobilized, saturated phosphatidylcholine. Lipids containing -branched acyl chains, however, showed good affinity for organic vapors, and sensor responses improved 4–5-fold. Moreover, these sensors were shown to have sensitivity of the same order as the humans' sense of smell (10⁻⁵–10⁻⁶ w/w in liquid paraffin) when measured using standard odorants (isovaleric acid, skatole, etc.) for an olfactometry established in Japan.     

Facile synthesis of polyacrylate directed silver nanoparticles for pH sensing through naked eye

Poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) and its salt poly(acrylate) (PA) have been synthesized through modified free radical polymerization in environmentally begin aqueous medium under ultrasound to make the process robust. The synthesized polymer is well-characterized through conventional techniques. Its salt is employed to produce highly stable and stimuli sensitive colloidal silver (Ag-PA sol) without using any additional reducing chemical reagents like sodium borohydride, ascorbic acid, hydrazine, etc or UV/Gamma radiation. A detailed mechanistic path of the polymerization and reduction of Ag⁺ on polyacrylate chains has been evaluated. Finally Ag-PA sol is used for pH sensing through naked eye to eliminate the need for sophisticated instrument for data collection. The present work focuses mainly the development of a low cost pH sensing system based on colorimetric ‘smart polymer’ having high practical utility. The unique structural and photo-physical features of nano-scaled materials open new opportunities for the applications of colorimetric pH sensor. In the present work, Ag nano-clusters capped by PA^? are employed as an effective colorimetric pH sensor for the first time, requiring no further functionalization.     

Noncovalent Assembly of Picket‐Fence Porphyrin on Carbon Nanotubes as Effective Peroxidase‐Like Catalysts for Detection of Hydrogen Peroxide in Beverages

A newly developed electrochemical sensor for determination of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in beverages using a water‐insoluble picket‐fence porphyrin (FeTpivPP) functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) is demonstrated. Introduction of FeTpivPP on MWNTs led to enhanced electron transfer. As a new platform in electrochemical analysis, the resultant sensor showed excellent electrocatalytic activity toward the reduction of H₂O₂ due to the synergic effect between MWNTs and FeTpivPP, thus leading to highly sensitive amperometric sensing of H₂O₂ with a detection limit of 0.05 µmol L^?1. The developed method is successfully used to detect H₂O₂ in beverages and shows great promise for routine sensing applications.     

Ultra-thin CoAl layered double hydroxide nanosheets for the construction of highly sensitive and selective QCM humidity sensor

To achieve real-time monitoring of humidity in various applications, we prepared facile and ultra-thin CoAl layered double hydroxide (CoAl LDH) nanosheets to engineer quartz crystal microbalances (QCM). The characteristics of CoAl LDH were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectric spectroscopy (XPS), Brunauer–Emmett–Telle (BET), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and zeta potential. Due to their large specific surface area and abundant hydroxyl groups, CoAl LDH nanosheets exhibit good humidity sensing performance. In a range of 11.3% and 97.6% relative humidity (RH), the sensor behaved an ultrahigh sensitivity (127.8 Hz/%RH), fast response (9.1 s) and recovery time (3.1 s), low hysteresis (3.1%RH), good linearity (R² = 0.9993), stability and selectivity. Besides, the sensor can recover the initial response frequency after being wetted by deionized water, revealing superior self-recovery ability under high humidity. Based on in-situ Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), the adsorption mechanism of CoAl LDH toward water molecules was explored. The QCM sensor can distinguish different respiratory states of people and wetting degree of fingers, as well as monitor the humidity in vegetable packaging, suggesting excellent properties and a promising application in humidity sensing.     

Comparative study of Ag(I) selective poly(vinyl chloride) membrane sensors based on newly developed Schiff-base lariat ethers derived from 4,13-diaza-18-crown-6

The six Schiff-base lariat ether chelates based on 4,13-diaza-18-crown ether, have been synthesized and explored as a neutral ionophores for preparing poly(vinyl chloride) based membrane sensors selective to silver(I). The addition of potassium tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl) borate and various plasticizers, viz., o-NPOE, DBP, DBBP, DOP and CN has been found to substantially improve the performance of the sensors. The best performance was obtained with the sensor no. 5 having membrane of chelate (A₆) with composition (w/w) chelate (2.8%):PVC (45.7%):o-NPOE (48.6%):KTpClPB (2.8%). This sensor exhibits Nernstian response with slope 59.3 mV/decade of activity in the concentration range 5.6 × 10⁻⁸-1.0 × 10⁻¹ M Ag(I), performs satisfactorily over wide pH range of (3.0-8.0) with a fast response time (12 s). The sensor was also found to work satisfactorily in partially non-aqueous media up to 25% (v/v) content of acetonitrile, methanol or ethanol and can tolerate the concentration 1.0 × 10⁻² M of ionic (SDS, TBC) and nonionic (Triton X-100) surfactants. The proposed sensor can be used over a period of 4 months without significant drift in potentials. The response of the sensor was highly selective to Ag⁺ over a large number of cations and it could therefore be used for Ag⁺ estimation in blood of occupationally exposed persons.     

Hapten immobilization for antibody sensing using a dynamic modification protocol

Optical fiber (OF) sensors are often limited by the immobilization technique used to associate a specific sensing ligand with the OF surface. This is particularly true when the ligand is biologically active as, for example, in the case of immobilized haptens or antibodies. The dynamic modification protocol is a regenerable and experimentally simple way to immobilize a variety of sensing molecules on an OF surface. Furthermore, the protocol is immune to hydrolysis and not limited by diffusion through a membrane or sol–gel. In this publication the approach is extended by immobilizing the hydrophobic hapten (octadecyl 6-(2,4 dinitrophenyl)aminohexanoic acid) as a means to prepare an OF sensor for antibodies specific for 2,4 dinitrophenyl (DNP). The LOD for anti-DNP is 0.5 nanomolar and the K_apparent is 1.0±0.2×10⁶. Nonspecific antibody adsorption is problematic in this sensing approach and was found to limit the quantitative capabilities of the sensor. However, time discrimination can be used to allow the nonspecific antibody to desorb prior to measurement thus minimizing the influence of nonspecific binding on sensor performance.     

A Novel Electrochemical Sensor Based on Copper‐based Metal‐Organic Framework for the Determination of Dopamine

A glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a copper‐based metal‐organic framework (MOF) [HKUST‐1, HKUST‐1 = Cu₃(BTC)₂ (BTC = 1,3,5‐benzenetricarboxylicacid)] was developed as a highly sensitive and simple electrochemical sensor for the determination of dopamine (DA). The MOF was prepared by a hydrothermal process, and the morphology and crystal phase of the MOF were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. Meanwhile, the electrochemical performance was investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Under optimized conditions, the modified electrode showed excellent electrocatalytic activity and high selectivity toward DA. The linear response range was from 5.0 × 10⁻⁷ to 1.0 × 10⁻⁴ M and the detection limit was as low as 1.5 × 10⁻⁷ M. Moreover, the electrochemical sensor was used to detect DA in real samples with excellent results. MOF‐based sensors hold great promise for routine sensing applications in the field of electrochemical sensing.     

基于硫堇掺杂的聚乙烯醇薄膜的光波导传感器检测硫化氢气体

采用旋转甩涂法将硫堇掺杂的聚乙烯醇薄膜固定在K⁺交换玻璃光波导表面,研制出一种高灵敏硫化氢气体传感器。 传感膜与硫化氢(H₂S)气体作用时,薄膜颜色从紫色变为无色,从而降低薄膜对倏逝波的吸收,使传感器的输出光强度（信号）增强。 采用流动注射法对H₂S气体进行检测。 实验结果表明,H₂S传感器对浓度在0.14~56 mg/m3范围的H₂S气体具有良好的线性响应（r=0.99667）,检出限为0.11 mg/m³(S/N=3),相对标准偏差为4.0%,响应时间（t90）＜2 s。 该传感器具有灵敏度高、响应快、可逆性和重复性好等特点。     

Highly chemoselective colorimetric/fluorometric dual-channel sensor with fast response and good reversibility for the selective and sensitive detection of Cu2+

A novel colorimetric and fluorometric dual-channel sensor DA with a favorable optical property and high specificity via a facile synthesis for Cu²⁺ was developed. DA showed a remarkably rapid response and high selectivity for Cu²⁺ over other metal ions with low detection limit of 15.1 nM. The sensing mechanism of DA for Cu²⁺ was based on the chelation-enhanced fluorescence quenching (CHEQ) mechanism, and further confirmed by optical measurements, FTIR, HRMS and DFT calculations. Importantly, DA for sensing Cu²⁺ possessed excellent sensing performances including colorimetric and fluorometric dual-mode detection, fast response, good reversibility, wide pH response range and strong anti-interference ability. Moreover, the DA could be not only applied to quantitatively detect Cu²⁺ in environmental water, food and drink samples, but also show highly colorimetric detection of Cu²⁺ on test strips and silica, indicating its possibility to be utilized as a convenient and low-cost sensor for environment and food monitoring.     

Fiber-optic dual Fabry-Pérot interferometric carbon monoxide sensor with polyaniline/Co3O4/graphene oxide sensing membrane

An optical fiber dual Fabry-Pérot interferometric carbon monoxide gas sensor based on PANI/Co₃O₄/GO (PCG) sensing membrane coated on the end face of the optical fiber is proposed and fabricated. One end face of photonic crystal fiber (PCF) without cut-off wavelength is fused with a single-mode fiber (SMF), and the other end face of the PCF is coated with PCG sensing membrane. The collapsed layer formed during the air hole fusion of PCF is used as the first reflector, the interface between PCF and sensing membrane is used as the second reflector, and the interface between the sensing membrane and the air is used as the third reflector, thus the dual Fabry-Pérot structure sensor is formed. The results show that the sensor has excellent sensitivity and selectivity to carbon monoxide. With the increasing concentration of carbon monoxide gas in the range of 0−60 ppm, the intensity of interference spectrum decreases. The sensitivity of the sensor is 0.3473 dB m/ppm, and its linearity is good. The response time and recovery time are 68 s and 106 s, respectively. The sensor has the advantages of the compact size, low cost, high sensitivity, strong selectivity and simple structure. It is suitable for the sensing detection of low concentration carbon monoxide gas.     

Development of a Simple and Inexpensive Optical Absorption One‐Shot Sensor Membrane for Detection and Determination of Cyanide Ions in Water Samples

A new one‐shot optical cyanide ion sensor is proposed for determination of cyanide ions. The sensor was constructed by immobilizing crystal violet (CV) on triacetylcellulose membrane. The sensing mechanism involves reaction between cyanide ions and the immobilized CV at pH = 5.4, which results in a decrease in absorbance of the membrane at 600 nm. The sensor shows sufficient repeatability, reproducibility, operational lifetime of 3 weeks, and a response of less then 10 min under the optimum conditions and response time of 8 min. Cyanide can be determined in the concentration range of 50.0‐800 μg mL^‐1 with a detection limit of 5.0 μg mL^‐1. Most ions do not interfere with the determination of cyanide ions. The proposed sensor was successfully applied to the determination of cyanide in spiked water samples.     

Hydroquinone monosulfonate-doped polypyrrole electrodeposited on very low cost commercial junction field effect transistors as a novel ion sensitive field effect transistor pH sensor

In this study, for the first time, we introduce a simple and low cost pH sensor based on a commercial junction field effect transistor. The transistor was mechanically treated, isolated and used as an ion sensitive field effect transistor for pH detection, after electrodeposition of the sensing membrane on its surface. Polypyrrole, as a suitable sensing membrane, was electrodeposited on the copper metal gate of transistor from a solution containing pyrrole monomer, hydroquinone monosulfonate as a proper ligand and sodium salicylate for avoiding the substrate oxidation, under a two-step deposition conditions. The prepared sensor showed a near-Nernstian response of 52.3 mV pH^?1 over a linear pH range of 2.75–12.20, an ultra low hysteresis of 0.56 mV, a very low drift of 0.14 mV h^?1 and a low response time of less than 8 s.     

An Engineered OmpG Nanopore with Displayed Peptide Motifs for Single-Molecule Multiplex Protein Detection

Molecular detection via nanopore, achieved by monitoring changes in ionic current arising from analyte interaction with the sensor pore, is a promising technology for multiplex sensing development. Outer Membrane Protein G (OmpG), a monomeric porin possessing seven functionalizable loops, has been reported as an effective sensing platform for selective protein detection. Using flow cytometry to screen unfavorable constructs, we identified two OmpG nanopores with unique peptide motifs displayed in either loop 3 or 6, which also exhibited distinct analyte signals in single-channel current recordings. We exploited these motif-displaying loops concurrently to facilitate single-molecule multiplex protein detection in a mixture. We additionally report a strategy to increase sensor sensitivity via avidity motif display. These sensing schemes may be expanded to more sophisticated designs utilizing additional loops to increase multiplicity and sensitivity.     

Wearable Capacitive Pressure Sensor for Contact and Non-Contact Sensing and Pulse Waveform Monitoring

Sensitive and flexible pressure sensors have invoked considerable interest for a broad range of applications in tactile sensing, physiological sensing, and flexible electronics. The barrier between high sensitivity and low fabrication cost needs to be addressed to commercialize such flexible pressure sensors. A low-cost sacrificial template-assisted method for the capacitive sensor has been reported herein, utilizing a porous Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) polymer and a multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) composite-based dielectric layer. The sensor shows high sensitivity of 2.42 kPa⁻¹ along with a low limit of detection of 1.46 Pa. The high sensitivity originates from adding MWCNT to PDMS, increasing the composite polymer’s dielectric constant. Besides this, the pressure sensor shows excellent stability at a cyclic loading of 9000 cycles, proving its reliability for long-lasting application in tactile and physiological sensing. The high sensitivity of the sensor is suitable for the detection of small deformations such as pulse waveforms as well as tactile pressure sensing. In addition, the paper demonstrates a simultaneous contact and non-contact sensing capability suitable for dual sensing (pressure and proximity) with a single data readout system. The dual-mode sensing capability may open opportunities for realizing compact systems in robotics, gesture control, contactless applications, and many more. The practicality of the sensor was shown in applications such as tactile sensing, Morse code generator, proximity sensing, and pulse wave sensing.