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An optoelectronic nose for the detection of toxic gases

Nature Chemistry volume 1, pages 562–567 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

We have developed a simple colorimetric sensor array that detects a wide range of volatile analytes and then applied it to the detection of toxic gases. The sensor consists of a disposable array of cross-responsive nanoporous pigments with colours that are changed by diverse chemical interactions with analytes. Although no single chemically responsive pigment is specific for any one analyte, the pattern of colour change for the array is a unique molecular fingerprint. Clear differentiation among 19 different toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) within two minutes of exposure at concentrations immediately dangerous to life or health were demonstrated. Based on the colour change of the array, quantification of each analyte was accomplished easily, and excellent detection limits were achieved, generally below the permissible exposure limits. Different TICs were identified readily using a standard chemometric approach (hierarchical clustering analysis), with no misclassifications over 140 trials.

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Figure 1: The CSA consists of 36 different chemically responsive pigments printed directly on a polyethylene terephthalate film.
Figure 2: Colour-change profiles of representative TICs at their IDLH concentration after two minutes of exposure.
Figure 3: The effect of concentration on array response to ammonia, chlorine and sulfur dioxide.
Figure 4: Response time of the array.
Figure 5: Reversibility of colorimetric array response.
Figure 6: HCA for 19 TICs at IDLH concentrations and a control.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported through the National Institutes of Health Genes, Environment and Health Initiative through award U01ES016011.

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Author notes

  1. Sung H. Lim and Liang Feng: Both authors contributed equally to this work

Authors and Affiliations

  1. iSense LLC, 470 Ramona St, Palo Alto, 94301, California, USA

    Sung H. Lim

  2. Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, 61801, Illinois, USA

    Liang Feng, Jonathan W. Kemling, Christopher J. Musto & Kenneth S. Suslick

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  1. Sung H. Lim
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  2. Liang Feng
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  3. Jonathan W. Kemling
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  4. Christopher J. Musto
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  5. Kenneth S. Suslick
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Contributions

S.H.L. and L.F. contributed equally to the design of experiments, collection and analysis of data, and drafting of the manuscript, with assistance from J.W.K. and C.J.M. K.S.S. originated the central idea, oversaw the design of experiments and data analysis and contributed to the writing of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Kenneth S. Suslick.

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Lim, S., Feng, L., Kemling, J. et al. An optoelectronic nose for the detection of toxic gases. Nature Chem 1, 562–567 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nchem.360

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