Sensor refresh systems
A sensor refresh system. The sensor refresh system includes a sensor assembly including a sensing surface. The sensor refresh system includes a sensor attached to the sensing surface of the sensing assembly. The sensor includes a receptor binding a chemical species in a binding state. The sensor refresh system further includes an optical source irradiating the sensor when the chemical species is in the binding state to dissociate the chemical species from the receptor of the sensor in a dissociation state.
1 . A sensor refresh method comprising:
binding a chemical species in a binding state to a receptor of a sensor attached to a sensing surface of a sensor assembly to detect the chemical species;
tuning an optical source to a resonant frequency of a bond vibration or a rotation of the receptor and the chemical species in the binding state; and
irradiating the sensor via the optical source at the resonant frequency when the chemical species is in the binding state to dissociate the chemical species from the receptor of the sensor in a dissociation state.
2 . The sensor refresh method of claim 1 , wherein the chemical species is a gas.
3 . The sensor refresh method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor includes a spacer bound to the receptor, a fluorophore bound to the spacer, and an anchor bound to the fluorophore and attaching the sensor to the sensing surface of the sensing assembly.
4 . The sensor refresh method of claim 3 , wherein the sensor includes a photodetector determining an amount of the chemical species by measuring fluorescence when the optical source irradiates the sensor when the chemical species is in the binding state.
5 . The sensor refresh method of claim 3 , wherein the fluorophore is carbazole, diphenylfurane, naphthalene, N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylbenzidine, or porphyrin.
6 . The sensor refresh method of claim 1 , wherein the sensing surface has a material undergoing one or more electronic property changes upon binding to the chemical species.
7 . The sensor refresh method of claim 6 , wherein the material is a metal oxide or an organic semiconductor.
8 . The sensor refresh method of claim 1 , wherein the sensing assembly further comprises a polymer thin film embedded with the sensing surface to immobilize the sensor on the sensing surface thereof.
9 . A sensor refresh method comprising:
binding a chemical species in a binding state to a receptor of a sensor attached to a sensing surface of a sensing assembly to detect the chemical species;
tuning an optical source to a resonant frequency of a bond vibration or a rotation of the receptor and the chemical species in the binding state;
after detecting the chemical species, completely or at least partially drying the receptor; and
after the drying step, irradiating the sensor via the optical source at the resonant frequency when the chemical species is in the binding state to dissociate the chemical species from the receptor of the sensor in a dissociation state.
10 . The sensor refresh method of claim 9 , wherein the chemical species is a gas.
11 . The sensor refresh method of claim 9 , wherein the sensor includes a spacer bound to the receptor, a fluorophore bound to the spacer, and an anchor bound to the fluorophore and attaching the sensor to the sensing surface of the sensing assembly.
12 . The sensor refresh method of claim 11 , wherein the sensor includes a photodetector determining an amount of the chemical species by measuring fluorescence when the optical source irradiates the sensor when the chemical species is in the binding state.
13 . The sensor refresh method of claim 12 , wherein the fluorophore is carbazole, diphenylfurane, naphthalene, N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylbenzidine, or porphyrin.
14 . The sensor refresh method of claim 13 , wherein the fluorophore is carbazole.
15 . The sensor refresh method of claim 13 , wherein the fluorophore is diphenylfurane.
16 . The sensor refresh method of claim 13 , wherein the fluorophore is naphthalene.
17 . The sensor refresh method of claim 13 , wherein the fluorophore is N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylbenzidine.
18 . The sensor refresh method of claim 13 , wherein the fluorophore is porphyrin.
19 . The sensor refresh method of claim 9 , wherein the tuning step includes tuning the optical source to the resonant frequency of the bond vibration of the receptor and the chemical species in the binding state.
20 . The sensor refresh method of claim 9 , wherein the tuning step includes tuning the optical source to the resonant frequency of the rotation of the receptor and the chemical species in the binding state.