Double Layer Sensor Reproducing Perception Dynamics of Olfactory Cells

Abstract:

In this work an attempt to obtain a more compact artificial system for gas sensing, properly designed on a transducer, is presented. This novel device can be applied for a wide application range such as environmental, bio-medical, agriculture etc. fields. In the Nature, a mucous layer covering olfactory receptor cells, selectively tunes chemical interactions among odorous molecules and sensing system. An odor, in fact, is perceived only if it is able to cross mucus of nasal cavity. A proper hydrophobic Teflon-like overcoating tunes chemical interactions, humidity free, between odorous molecules and sensing system, miming mucus covering olfactory receptor cells. Here the latters were represented by doped polyaniline added of polyethylenoxide. The interacting surface has been enormously enhanced creating nanofibrous coatings by electrospinning deposition technique. Such nanofibers can be compared with the olfactory cilia covered by mucus. Few modifications of both overlayers and nanofibrous polymers can encourage the developing of new chemical sensors for array sensor system generations. Surfaces analysis, electrical parameters and sensing properties of the double layers on interdigitated transducers have been investigated.