Molecular imprinting strategy for solvent molecules and its application for QCM-based VOC vapor sensing

Cross-linked polymers made of methyl methacrylate (MMA) as a monomer and divinylbenzene (DVB) as a cross-linking agent were prepared in the presence of toluene or p-xylene as a solvent. The cross-linked polymer prepared in toluene tended to sorb toluene vapor preferably, while the cross-linked polymer prepared in p-xylene sorbed p-xylene vapor preferably. The observed molecular recognition ability can be explained on the bases of an imprinting effect by solvent molecules. Molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) powders were blended with PMMA, and the blended films were coated on a piezoelectric quartz crystal with a view to preparing QCM-based VOC sensors. The imprint effect was clearly observed, even in these blended films. The response of the sensor towards toluene or p-xylene vapor was reversible; however, the response time was slow due to the existence of the matrix polymer around the MIP particles.

[1]  H. Finklea,et al.  Quartz crystal microbalance sensor for organic vapor detection based on molecularly imprinted polymers. , 2003, Analytical chemistry.

[2]  W. Göpel,et al.  Selective detection of organic molecules with polymers and supramolecular compounds: application of capacitance, quartz microbalance and calorimetric transducers , 1992 .

[3]  Yoshiro Sakai,et al.  Preparation of a sensor device with specific recognition sites for acetaldehyde by molecular imprinting technique , 2002 .

[4]  Basil I. Swanson,et al.  Molecular host siloxane thin films for surface acoustic wave chemical sensors , 1997 .

[5]  Wolfgang Göpel,et al.  Supramolecular and polymeric structures for gas sensors , 1995 .

[6]  M. Matsuguchi,et al.  Effect of NH3 gas on the electrical conductivity of polyaniline blend films , 2002 .

[7]  G. Sauerbrey,et al.  Use of quartz vibration for weighing thin films on a microbalance , 1959 .

[8]  G. Sauerbrey.  Verwendung von Schwingquarzen zur Wägung dünner Schichten und zur Mikrowägung , 1959 .

[9]  K. Hosoya,et al.  Porogen Imprinting Effects , 1998 .

[10]  Xiwen He,et al.  A piezoelectric quartz crystal sensor array self assembled calixarene bilayers for detection of volatile organic amine in gas. , 2002, Talanta.

[11]  J. Haginaka,et al.  Separation and sensing based on molecular recognition using molecularly imprinted polymers. , 1999, Journal of chromatography. B, Biomedical sciences and applications.

[12]  L. Andersson,et al.  Molecular imprinting: developments and applications in the analytical chemistry field. , 2000, Journal of chromatography. B, Biomedical sciences and applications.

[13]  K Mosbach,et al.  Separation of amino acids, peptides and proteins on molecularly imprinted stationary phases. , 1995, Journal of chromatography. A.

[14]  Michael J. Whitcombe,et al.  A NEW METHOD FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF RECOGNITION SITE FUNCTIONALITY INTO POLYMERS PREPARED BY MOLECULAR IMPRINTING : SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYMERIC RECEPTORS FOR CHOLESTEROL , 1995 .

[15]  Franz L. Dickert,et al.  Mass-sensitive solvent vapor detection with calix[4]resorcinarenes : Tuning sensitivity and predicting sensor effects , 1997 .

[16]  H. Muguruma,et al.  Molecular Imprinting of Methyl Pyrazines , 1999 .