Recognition of organic solvents molecules by simultaneous detection using SAW oscillator sensors and optical fiber devices coated by Langmuir-Blodgett cadmium arachidate films.

Surface acoustic waves (SAW) 433 and 315 MHz, two-port resonator-based oscillators coated with a Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) thin layer of chemosensitive cadmium arachidate (CdA) provide highly sensitive chemical acoustic sensors for detection and monitoring of organic vapors, at room temperature. LB CdA film-coated silica optical fibers (SOF) have been successfully fabricated and studied for organic solvents molecules sensing applications. The sensing performance of both types of acoustic and optical transducers has been compared for detecting six molecular species. Simultaneous measurements of frequency changes (delta f) and optoelectronic signal changes (deltaV) of the LB CdA film assembled onto SAW sensors and SOF devices have been realized for organic vapors recognition purposes. Six molecular species such as ethanol, methanol, isopropanol, ethylacetate, acetone, and toluene have been identified and recognized by a specific index (deltaf/deltaV), which can be considered a characteristic property of the chemosensitive material. The discrimination of the six molecular species examined also has been obtained by chemical patterns using a couple of specific index (deltaf433/deltaV; deltaf315/deltaV) measured by combining SAW 433 or 315 MHz oscillators and SOF sensing devices. Transient responses, calibration curves, intertransducer relationships, and chemical patterns are presented and discussed.