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A study of a QCM sensor based on pentacene for the detection of BTX vapors in air

Authors :
Emiliano Zampetti
Iole Venditti
Paolo Papa
Andrea Bearzotti
Antonella Macagnano
Bearzotti, A.
Macagnano, A.
Papa, P.
Venditti, I.
Zampetti, E.
Source :
Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical, 240 (2017): 1160–1164. doi:10.1016/j.snb.2016.09.097, info:cnr-pdr/source/autori:Bearzotti A.; Macagnano A.; Papa P.; Venditti I.; Zampetti E./titolo:A study of a QCM sensor based on pentacene for the detection of BTX vapors in air/doi:10.1016%2Fj.snb.2016.09.097/rivista:Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical (Print)/anno:2017/pagina_da:1160/pagina_a:1164/intervallo_pagine:1160–1164/volume:240
Publication Year :
2017
Publisher :
Elsevier BV, 2017.

Abstract

In this work we report the results concerning the integration of a thin layer of an organic polymer (pentacene) on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) used for pollutant detection at room temperature. Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are one of the major air pollutants. They are directly involved in the photochemistry of the ozone layer and can affect human health. Exposure to VOC may happen in indoor or outdoor environments, both for short or longer period of time in domestic or working conditions. Among VOCs, mono aromatic compounds such as benzene, toluene or xylenes (often referred as BTX) have carcinogenic, narcotic and neurotoxic properties. Thin films of pentacene were obtained by thermal physical vapor deposition both on transducers and silicon substrates. Structural and morphological characterizations by FTIR and AFM analysis confirm analogy between layered material before and after BTX exposition. QCM was chosen as a transducer due to the kind of interactions involved between material and the target gases. The device was exposed to BTX both in dry and wet conditions. The measurements results where compared also with those collected during the exposure toward humidity and ethanol. A clear discrimination between the different analytes was found.

Details

ISSN :
09254005
Volume :
240
Database :
OpenAIRE
Journal :
Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical
Accession number :
edsair.doi.dedup.....dfddd924343d5a64a2a4c5356e83e9e4
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2016.09.097