Sensors in analytical chemistry

Chemical sensorics is an independent domain of modern analytical chemistry. In Germany and Japan, multivolume encyclopedias dedicated to sensors were published. The publication of the nine-volume encyclopedia [1] in Germany was immediately followed by the appearance of the annual publication [2] incorporating additional data available from US. The preparations to publication of the next encyclopedia of sensors are under way now. It san be said with a good reason that chemical sensorics is a well-established sphere which is still under active development. This is specifically a testing ground for novel ideas and novel materials. This issue of Rossiiskii Khimicheskii Zhurnal (Zhurnal Rossiiskogo Khimicheskogo O-va im. D. I. Mendeleeva) is dedicated to chemical and biochemical sensors. It makes readers acquainted with the current state of the art in this sphere and covers various types of sensors. Here, we attempt to outline the general situation in this domain of analytical chemistry.