Technologies and tools for mimicking olfaction: status of the Rome "Tor Vergata" electronic nose

This pager shows recent results obtained in the held of artificial olfaction by an electronic nose based on quartz microbalances. The chemical interactive material responsible of the sensitivity is, in this case, porphyrin, whose performance and optical characterization will be presented and discussed. The design of the electronic nose and the kind of neural network that has been considered for these applications will be illustrated and commented. Future research and perspectives toward electronic nose miniaturization are also discussed as fundamental milestones for reaching closer biomimicking action. (C) 1998 Published by Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.