Institute of Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, Ulm University , Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany.
ACS Sens. 2017 Nov 22;2(11):1700-1705. doi: 10.1021/acssensors.7b00649. Epub 2017 Nov 13.
Gas analysis via mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopic techniques has gained significance due to its inherent molecular selectivity and sensitivity probing pronounced vibrational, rotational, and roto-vibrational modes. In addition, MIR gas sensors are suitable for real-time monitoring in a wide variety of sensing scenarios. Our research team has recently introduced so-called substrate-integrated hollow waveguides (iHWGs) fabricated by precision milling, which have been demonstrated to be useful in online process monitoring, environmental sensing, and exhaled breath analysis especially if low sample volumes (i.e., few hundreds of microliters) are probed with rapid signal transients. A logical next step is to establish ultralightweight, potentially disposable, and low-cost substrate-integrated hollow waveguides, which may be readily customized and tailored to specific applications using 3D printing techniques. 3D printing provides access to an unprecedented variety of thermoplastic materials including biocompatible polylactides, readily etchable styrene copolymers, and magnetic or conductive materials. Thus, the properties of the waveguide may be adapted to suit its designated application, e.g., drone-mounted ultralightweight waveguides for environmental monitoring or biocompatible disposable sensor interfaces in medical/clinical applications.
基于中红外（MIR）光谱技术的气体分析因其固有分子选择性和灵敏度而备受关注，能够探测到显著的振动、旋转和旋转变动模式。此外，MIR 气体传感器适用于各种传感场景的实时监测。我们的研究团队最近引入了所谓的通过精密铣削制造的基板集成中空波导（iHWG），其已被证明在在线过程监测、环境传感和呼气分析中非常有用，特别是在探测低样品量（即几百微升）时，具有快速信号瞬变的功能。下一步是建立超轻量、潜在可一次性使用且低成本的基板集成中空波导，可通过 3D 打印技术轻松定制和针对特定应用进行调整。3D 打印技术提供了对各种热塑性材料的空前访问权限，包括生物相容性聚乳酸、易于刻蚀的苯乙烯共聚物以及磁性或导电材料。因此，波导的性能可以适应其指定的应用，例如用于环境监测的无人机安装的超轻量波导或医疗/临床应用中的生物相容性一次性传感器接口。
