Acoustic wave sensors and methods of sensing a gas-phase analyte
Acoustic wave sensors comprise: a piezoelectric layer, first and second electrodes arranged with the piezoelectric layer in a piezoelectric transducer circuit; and a polymeric sensing layer for adsorbing a gas-phase analyte, the adsorption of which analyte causes a change in resonant frequency of the piezoelectric transducer circuit, wherein the polymeric sensing layer comprises: (a) a polymer chosen from substituted or unsubstituted: polyarylenes comprising the reaction product of monomers comprising a first monomer comprising an aromatic acetylene group and a second monomer comprising a cyclopentadienone group; polyamides; polypyrazoles; or novolacs; or a cured product thereof; (b) a polymer chosen from substituted or unsubstituted: polyamic acids; or polyamic acid-polyimide copolymers; (c) a polymer formed from one or more monomers comprising a monomer comprising a polar group-substituted arylcyclobutene group, or a cured product thereof; or (d) a polymer comprising polymerized units of a monomer chosen from substituted or unsubstituted: maleimides; or norbomenes; or a cured product thereof. The acoustic wave sensors and methods of using such sensors find particular applicability in the sensing of gas-phase analytes.
1. An acoustic wave sensor, comprising:
a piezoelectric layer;
first and second electrodes arranged with the piezoelectric layer in a piezoelectric transducer circuit; and
a polymeric sensing layer for adsorbing a gas-phase analyte, the adsorption of which analyte causes a change in resonant frequency of the piezoelectric transducer circuit, wherein the polymeric sensing layer comprises:
(a) a polymer chosen from substituted or unsubstituted: polyarylenes comprising the reaction product of monomers comprising a first monomer comprising an aromatic acetylene group and a second monomer comprising a cyclopentadienone group; polypyrazoles; or novolacs; or a cured product thereof;
(b) a polymer formed from one or more monomers comprising a monomer comprising a polar group-substituted arylcyclobutene group, or a cured product thereof; or
(c) a polymer comprising polymerized units of a monomer chosen from substituted or unsubstituted: maleimides; or norbornenes; or a cured product thereof.
2. The acoustic wave sensor of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric sensing layer comprises a polymer chosen from substituted or unsubstituted polyarylenes comprising the reaction product of monomers comprising a first monomer comprising an aromatic acetylene group and a second monomer comprising a cyclopentadienone group, or a cured product thereof.
3. The acoustic wave sensor of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric sensing layer comprises a polymer chosen from substituted or unsubstituted: polypyrazoles; or novolacs; or a cured product thereof.
4. The acoustic wave sensor of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric sensing layer comprises a polymer formed from one or more monomers comprising a monomer comprising a polar group-substituted arylcyclobutene group, or a cured product thereof.
5. The acoustic wave sensor of claim 1 , wherein the polymeric sensing layer comprises a polymer comprising polymerized units of a monomer chosen from substituted or unsubstituted: maleimides; or norbornenes; or a cured product thereof.
6. The acoustic wave sensor of claim 1 , wherein the acoustic wave sensor is a quartz crystal microbalance sensor, a film bulk acoustic resonator, or a surface acoustic wave sensor.
7. A method of sensing a gas-phase analyte, comprising:
(a) providing an acoustic wave sensor according to any of claims 1 ;
(b) exposing the polymeric sensing layer to an atmosphere comprising a gas-phase analyte; and
(c) monitoring resonant frequency of the acoustic wave sensor in response to the presence of the gas-phase analyte on the polymeric sensing layer.
8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising, in sequence:
(d) exposing the sensor to a second atmosphere effective to reduce the content of the gas-phase analyte in the sensor;
(e) allowing the resonant frequency of the acoustic wave sensor to recover to a baseline frequency; and
(f) exposing the sensor to a third atmosphere comprising a gas-phase analyte;
wherein the step (d), (e), and (f) sequence is performed one or more times.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the gas-phase analyte is an organic material.
10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the gas-phase analyte is chosen from one or more of toluene, ethanol, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, acetic acid, or a trialkylamine.
11. The method of claim 7 , wherein the gas-phase analyte is chosen from an alkyl thiol or hydrogen sulfide.
12. The method of claim 7 , wherein the polymeric sensing layer comprises a polymer chosen from substituted or unsubstituted polyarylenes comprising the reaction product of monomers comprising a first monomer comprising an aromatic acetylene group and a second monomer comprising a cyclopentadienone group, or a cured product thereof.
13. The method of claim 7 , wherein the polymeric sensing layer comprises a polymer chosen from substituted or unsubstituted: polypyrazoles; or novolacs;
or a cured product thereof.
14. The method of claim 7 , wherein the polymeric sensing layer comprises a polymer formed from one or more monomers comprising a monomer comprising a polar group-substituted arylcyclobutene group, or a cured product thereof.
15. The method of claim 7 , wherein the polymeric sensing layer comprises a polymer comprising polymerized units of a monomer chosen from substituted or unsubstituted: maleimides; or norbornenes; or a cured product thereof.
16. The method of claim 7 , wherein the acoustic wave sensor is a quartz crystal microbalance sensor, a film bulk acoustic resonator, or a surface acoustic wave sensor.