Rapid responding gas sensing element
A gas analysis sensing element and a method of making the sensing element is disclosed. In one embodiment, the sensing element includes cytochrome-c embedded in a sol-gel matrix. The sol-gel matrix may take the form of a thin film or a monolith. The applicants have discovered a number of parameters for creating such a sensing element, including protein concentration, sol-gel pore size, surface area for the monolith embodiment, sol-gel components, and work-up temperature.
1 . A gas sensing element, comprising:
a. a xerogel, said xerogel having a pore size in the range of 3.0 nm to 6.0 nm; and
b. a bioactive molecule embedded in said xerogel.
2 . The sensing element according to claim 1 , wherein the sensing element is a monolith.
3 . The sensing element according to claim 1 , wherein the sensing element is a thin film.
4 . The sensing element according to claim 1 , wherein said bioactive molecule is a protein.
5 . The sensing element according to claim 3 , wherein said bioactive molecule is cytochrome-c.
6 . The sensing element according to claim 1 , wherein said xerogel has a surface area between 550 m2/g to 650 m2/g.
7 . The sensing element according to claim 3 , wherein said xerogel has a protein concentration of between 1-40 mg/ml.
8 . The sensing element according to claim 4 , wherein said xerogel has a protein concentration of between 1-40 mg/ml.
9 . The sensing element according to claim 5 , wherein said xerogel has a protein concentration of between 1-40 mg/ml.
10 . A gas sensing element, comprising:
a. a xerogel; and
b. a protein embedded in said xerogel, said protein having a concentration of between 1-40 mg/ml.
11 . The sensing element according to claim 9 , wherein the sensing element is a monolith.
12 . The sensing element according to claim 9 , wherein said protein is cytochrome-c.
13 . The sensing element according to claim 9 , wherein said xerogel has a surface area between 550 m2/g to 650 m2/g.
14 . The sensing element according to claim 10 , wherein said xerogel has a surface area between 550 m2/g to 650 m2/g.
15 . The sensing element according to claim 11 , wherein said xerogel has a surface area between 550 m2/g to 650 m2/g.
16 . A gas sensing element, comprising:
a. a xerogel, said xerogel having a surface area between 550 m2/g to 650 m2/g; and
b. a bioactive molecule embedded in said xerogel.
17 . The sensing element according to claim 15 , wherein the sensing element is a monolith.
18 . The sensing element according to claim 15 , wherein said bioactive molecule is a protein.
19 . The sensing element according to claim 5 , wherein said bioactive molecule is cytochrome-c.
20 . A method of measuring a trace gas in exhaled breath, comprising:
a. capturing exhaled breath from a subject;
b. allowing said exhaled breath to interact with a sensing element according to claim 1; and
c. measuring a trace gas concentration in said exhaled breath based upon said step of allowing said exhaled breath to interact with a sensing element according to claim 1 .
21 . A method of measuring a trace gas in exhaled breath, comprising:
a. capturing exhaled breath from a subject;
b. allowing said exhaled breath to interact with a sensing element according to claim 9; and
c. measuring a trace gas concentration in said exhaled breath based upon said step of allowing said exhaled breath to interact with a sensing element according to claim 9 .
22 . A method of measuring a trace gas in exhaled breath, comprising:
a. capturing exhaled breath from a subject;
b. allowing said exhaled breath to interact with a sensing element according to claim 15; and
c. measuring a trace gas concentration in said exhaled breath based upon said step of allowing said exhaled breath to interact with a sensing element according to claim 15.