Extremely small and sensitive chemical vapor sensors are needed to realize field-deployable, miniaturized detector systems, such as electronic noses and micro-gas chromatographs, for environmental monitoring. Resonating nanocantilevers, able to detect mass changes on the attogram (10-18 g) level in ambient conditions with a capture area of only 1.5 �m2, appear promising for these emerging technologies. To predict and optimize sensor performance, a detailed understanding of the response mechanisms responsible for the resonant frequency shifts induced by sorption of molecules onto a nanocantilever is needed. Surface initiated polymerization was used to deposit both glassy and rubbery sorptive films onto specific regions of the nanocantilevers, which were then exposed to various volatile organic compound (VOC) vapors. Rubbery polymer films outperformed glassy films in terms of sensitivity, linearity, and response time, while glassy films determined the regions most important for sensor response, enabling future development of coatings for specific applications.

Probing the response mechanisms of resonating nanocantilever chemical vapor sensors by tailoring the properties and location of sorptive films through surface initiated polymerization

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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