Calixarene films as sensitive coatings for QCM-based gas sensors

This article is dedicated to utilization of calixarenes as sensitive coatings for quartz crystal microbalance (QCM)-based gas sensors. Sensitivity and selectivity of calixarenes varying each from other both the number of aryl fragments, and functional groups to wide range of volatile organic compounds (aromatics, chlororganics, ketones and alcohols) have been studied. The influence of introduction of various functional groups into calixarene molecule macrocycle to sensitivity towards different organic molecules has been analyzed. Sensors coated with phosphorous-containing calixarenes showed maximal sensitivity. Concentration dependencies and sensitivity thresholds of sensors have been obtained. (c) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.