Keywords
Citation
(2000), "Acid/base sensors", Sensor Review, Vol. 20 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2000.08720bad.014
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2000, MCB UP Limited
Acid/base sensors
Acid/base sensors
Keywords: Sensors, Polymers
Applicant: Gumbs Associates Inc. (USA)Patent number: US5869007Publication date: 9 February 1999Title: Conducting polymer based acid/base sensors
Acid/base measuring sensor systems consisting of arrays of basic sensor cells are described which are constructed based on the chemical/electrical response characteristics of poly(aromatic amines). The concept is based on the very sensitive and highly reversible dependence of electrical conductivity and optical properties of these conducting polymers when exposed to acidic or basic vapours or species. The consequent protonation (doping) or deprotonation (de-doping) of the -N.dbd. sites in the polymers leads to characteristic conductivity vs. concentration curves which can be calibrated to produce reliable, instantaneous readings of the acid/base concentrations at various points in the working environment. The sensitivity of the acid/base sensor of the present invention is in the ppb range.