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Evaluation of the performance of sensors based on optical imaging of a chemically sensitive layer

Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry volume 397, pages 613–621 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Interest in the use of the optical properties of chemical indicators is growing steadily. Among the optical methods that can be used to capture changes in sensing layers, those producing images of large-area devices are particularly interesting for chemical sensor array development. Until now, few studies addressed the characterization of image sensors from the point of view of their chemical sensor application. In this paper, a method to evaluate such performance is proposed. It is based on the simultaneous measurement of absorption events in a metalloporphyrin layer with an image sensor and a quartz microbalance (QMB). Exploiting the well-known behaviour of QMB, comparison of signals enables estimation of the minimum amount of absorbed molecules that the image sensor can detect. Results indicate that at the single pixel level a standard image sensor (for example a webcam) can easily detect femtomoles of absorbed molecules. It should therefore be possible to design sensor arrays in which the pixels of images of large-area sensing layers are regarded as individual chemical sensors providing a ready and simple method for large sensor array development.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, via del Politecnico 1, 00133, Roma, Italy

    Corrado Di Natale, Marco Santonico & Arnaldo D’Amico

  2. Department of Chemical Science and Technology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via della Ricerca Scientifica, 00133, Roma, Italy

    Roberto Paolesse

  3. Division of Applied Physics, Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Linköping University, 58183, Linköping, Sweden

    Daniel Filippini & Ingemar Lundström

Authors
  1. Corrado Di Natale
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  2. Marco Santonico
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  3. Roberto Paolesse
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  4. Daniel Filippini
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  5. Arnaldo D’Amico
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  6. Ingemar Lundström
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Correspondence to Corrado Di Natale.

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Di Natale, C., Santonico, M., Paolesse, R. et al. Evaluation of the performance of sensors based on optical imaging of a chemically sensitive layer. Anal Bioanal Chem 397, 613–621 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-3607-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-3607-x

Keywords

  • Chemical sensing
  • Optical sensing
  • Computer screen photo-assisted technique
  • Metalloporphyrins