Ultrasensitive, versatile detector of organic, small molecule materials, based on conductance of molecular imprinted SnO₂

As an n-type semiconductor, SnO₂ has been extensively applied in gas sensing. SnO₂ based nanomaterials have been widely investigated for the detection of various gases, including properties like fast-response speed, high chemical stability and prominent selectivity.

In this study, we aimed for the development of a much more versatile detector than ever before, by setting it to molecules never attested. Moreover, our goal was detection of smaller concentrations than in any previous research. Indeed, while there are numerous publications as to the use of MIP for detection of gaseous materials in concentrations as low as several ppm, and in liquids much smaller than that, in this study we managed to detect concentrations smaller than 30 ppb, in the gaseous phase.

Moreover, we report a highly selective such detection, as in this study we managed to separate between two different kinds of small heterocyclic aromatic molecules, doing all that at room temperature, ambient conditions, using an Alumina ceramic substrate.