Chemical Sensors and Biosensors provides an up-to-the-minute overview of a wide range of sensing systems, discussing the elements of different transducers used in sensors and the selective elements that are employed. The style is relatively non-mathematical and informal in approach.
Key features and subjects covered include the following:
- Sensors based on both electrochemical and photometric transducers
- Mass-sensitive sensors
- Thermal-sensitive sensors
- Performance factors for sensors
- Examples of applications
- Detailed case studies of five selected sensors
- 30 discussion questions with worked examples and 80 self-assessment questions
- 140 explanatory diagrams
- An extensive bibliography
Contents
Introduction
- Introduction to sensors
- Sensors and biosensors - definitions
- Aspects of sensors
Transduction Elements
- Electrochemical transducers - introduction
- Potentiometry and ion selective electrodes: the Nernst equation
- Voltammetry and amperometry
- Conductivity
- Field effect transistors
- Modified electrodes, thin film electrodes, microelectrodes and screen printed electrodes
- Photometric sensors
Sensing Elements
- Ionic recognition
- Molecular recognition - chemical recognition agents
- Molecular recognition - spectroscopic recognition
- Molecular recognition - biological recognition agents
- Immobilisation of biological component
Performance Factors
- Selectivity
- Sensitivity
- Time factors
- Precision, accuracy and repeatability
- Different biomaterials
- Different transducers
- Some factors affecting the performance of sensors
Electrochemical Sensors and Biosensors
- Potentiometric sensors - ion selective electrodes
- Potentiometric biosensors
- Amperometric sensors
- Conductometric sensors and biosensors
- Applications of FET sensors
Photometric Applications
- Techniques for optical sensors
- Visible absorption spectroscopy
- Fluorescent reagents
- Indirect methods using competitive binding
- Reflection methods
- Light scattering techniques
Mass Sensitive and Thermal Sensors
- The piezo-electric effect
- Surface acoustic waves
- Thermal sensors
Some Specific Applications
- Determination of glucose in blood - amperometric biosensor
- Determination of ng levels of copper (I) in water using anodic stripping voltammetry using an electrode modified with a complexing agent
- Determination of several ions simultaneously - "the laboratory on a chip"
- Determination of ato-mole levels of trinitrotoluene (TNT) - antibody with a luminescent transducer
- Determination of flavanols in beers