Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-27gpq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-28T16:47:48.630Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

An Optoelectronic Nose:“Seeing” Smells by Means of Colorimetric Sensor Arrays

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Get access

Abstract

A new approach to general sensors for odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using thin films of chemically responsive dyes as a colorimetric sensor array is described. This optoelectronic “nose,” by using an array of multiple dyes whose colors change based on the full range of intermolecular interactions, provides enormous discriminatory power among odorants in a simple device that can be easily digitally imaged. High sensitivities (ppb) have been demonstrated for the detection of biologically important analytes such as amines, carboxylic acids, and thiols. By the proper choice of dyes and substrate, the array can be made essentially nonresponsive to changes in humidity.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2004

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Albert, K.J., Lewis, N.S., Schauer, C.L., Sotzing, G.A., Stitzel, S.E., Vaid, T.P., and Walt, D.R., Chem. Rev. 100 (2000) p. 2595.Google Scholar
2Gardner, J.W. and Bartlett, P.N., Electronic Noses: Principles and Applications (Oxford University Press, New York, 1999).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3Rakow, N.A. and Suslick, K.S., Nature 406 (2000) p. 710.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4Rakow, N.A. and Suslick, K.S., Artificial Chemical Sensing: Olfaction and the Electronic Nose, edited by Stetter, J.R. and Pensrose, W.R. (Electrochemical Society, Pennington, NJ, 2001) p. 8.Google Scholar
5Suslick, K.S. and Rakow, N.A., “Colorimetric artificial nose having an array of dyes and method for artificial olfaction,” U.S. Patent6,368,558 (April 9, 2002).Google Scholar
6Suslick, K.S., Rakow, N.A., and Sen, A., “Colorimetric artificial nose having an array of dyes and method of artificial olfaction,” U.S. Patent6,495,102 (December 17, 2002).Google Scholar
7Wang, J., Luthey-Schulten, Z., and Suslick, K.S., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 100 (2003) p. 3035.Google Scholar
8Kolthoff, I.M., Acid Base Indicators, translated by Rosenblum, C. (MacMillan, New York, 1937).Google Scholar
9Sen, A. and Suslick, K.S., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 122 (2000) p. 11565.Google Scholar
10Brauman, J.I., personal communication (1972).Google Scholar
11Consumer Reports (January 2000) p. 29.Google Scholar