Modelling of chemical surface acoustic wave sensors and comparative analysis of new sensing materials

Comparative analysis of different, new gas sensing materials in surface acoustic wave chemical sensors is presented. Different gas sensing materials as polyaniline (PANI), Teflon AF 2400, polyisobutylene (PIB), polyepichlorohydrin (PECH) are considered. They are chosen according to the type of gas to be detected and the desired accuracy: Teflon AF 2400 thin film for the detection of CO₂, PANI nanocomposites film that belongs to the group of conductive polymers for the detection of CO, NO₂ and phosgene (COCl₂), and PECH and PIB for the detection of dichloromethane (CH₂Cl₂, DCM). In the analysis, the simple and useful method of the complete analyses of gas chemical sensors is used. The method is based on the electrical equivalent circuit of the surface acoustic wave sensor. The method is very efficient and can be used for the optimal design of CO₂ sensors. The results are compared with those presented in public literature and good agreement is obtained, demonstrating the validity of modelling. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.