An Electronic Nose for the Detection of Carbonyl Species

Conjugated polymers are an important class of materials due to their luminescent and electrical properties which result from electronic charge delocalization. Consequently, these polymers provide a suitable platform for new sensors since electronic and conformational changes that arise from the interaction with analytes translate into measurable changes in electrical conductivity or luminescence. The main advantage of this platform is based on the ability to partially tune the response of the sensor by changing the chemical structure of the polymer. The present work illustrates proof-of-concept chemical sensors that incorporate a molecular recognition site for the detection of common indoor air polluting carbonyl species such as aldehydes and ketones. Emphasis is placed on the detection of formaldehyde which poses major concerns in Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). By taking advantage of the differential response of various polymers towards analytes in question, sensor elements can be implemented in an array format to give an electronic nose