Synthesis and test of organometallic materials as sensitive layers on quartz microbalance devices

Aiming at quartz microbalance devices for the detection of halocarbons, some 20 organometallic complexes have been synthesized and tested. This report presents the findings of an investigation of phthalocyanine and crown ether complexes, which is part of a study of organometallics as sensor materials in general. The results of our quartz microbalance measurements demonstrate that thin layers of organometallic materials are suitable for monitoring solvent vapors. It was found that sensitivity and selectivity depend critically on the metal contained in the organometallic material. The sensor materials obtained are able to compete with polymeric materials, well known for their sensitivity towards solvent vapors.