Chemical sensor and coating for same
US6432362B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 6, 1999 |
| Grant date | Aug 13, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 6, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N2291/0427
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An acoustic wave based-chemical sensor utilizing a crystal substrate and a coating of at least two blended materials is disclosed. The blended materials comprise a combination of (a) a high glass transition temperature polymer or a material of high melting point, and (b) a low glass transition temperature polymer or a material having a low melting point. Transducers are connected to the crystal substrate to generate an alternating potential across the crystal substrate, which in turn causes the crystal to resonate due to the converse piezoelectric effect. The blended coating absorbs the analyte, thus changing the mass of the chemical sensor, and accordingly changing its resonant frequency. The transducers detect this change in resonant frequency to indicate that the analyte is present. The use of blended materials results in a thicker coating combining the preferred properties of the blend constituents, such as improved detection sensitivities, faster response times, less acoustic wave damping, and higher operational temperature ranges.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.