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High vacuum evaporation (VE) is used for the first time to grow thin films of novel tetraphosphonate, Tiiii[H, CH3, Ph], and tetrathiophosphonate, TSiiii[H, CH3, Ph], cavitands for gas sensing applications. The sensing capabilities of the samples were investigated by exposing Tiiii- and TSiiii-coated QCMs to very low concentrations of ethyl alcohol. The sensitivity, the speed (t50 = 5 s for both the samples) and the detection limit (0.4 ppm for Tiiii and 2.5 ppm for TSiiii) of the samples were determined, indicating highly competitive sensing capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanocomposite films containing Au nanoparticles embedded in a fluorinated polyimide (BPDA–3F) were prepared by two different chemical routes and the synthesis was followed by the estimation of the optical sensing capability of the samples in ethanol vapors. This work arises from the well–known ascertainment that optochemical sensing of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) using MNP (metal nanoparticles) characteristic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) absorption peak as the sensing probe is an attractive technique for its simplicity, high stability and sensitivity [1, 2]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polymers of Intrinsic Microporosity (PIMs) represent a novel class of polymer–based organic microporous materials that offer unrivaled scope for membrane separations, heterogeneous catalysis and hydrogen storage. In this work, we have explored for the first time the vapors sensing capability of PIMs. The solubility of the polymer in aprotic polar solvents allowed the incorporation of a strongly fluorescent dye (Nile Red). The materials, synthesized by a chemical route, were analyzed by absorption and emission spectroscopy, FT–IR spectroscopy, nitrogen physisorption measurements and X–ray diffraction. In particular the sensing capabilities of the hybrids toward ethanol vapors were tested and the kinetic profiles highlighted the optimal behavior of the films as related to sensitivity, response and recovery speed and reproducibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]