From Molecular Hollows to Imprinting Strategies – Mass-Sensitive Devices in Host-Guest Chemistry

Chemically sensitive coatings via supra-molecular chemistry are preferably combined with mass-sensitive devices. Thus, the quartz-crystal-balance (QCM) and the surface acoustic wave (SAW) oscillator allow monitoring inclusion phenomena from nanogram down to the sub-femto-gram range. A deeper insight into the inclusion process of analytes by e.g. cyclodextrines, calixarenes and paracyclophanes is obtained by modelling procedures, which offer to predict the sensitivity and selectivity of sensor coatings. The robustness of the materials is further enhanced by cross-linking which leads to functionalized polymers. This strategy is further developed by templating, in most cases identical to analytes, the polymer materials enable us to perform both gas- and liquid-phase measurements due to their inertness. The flexibility of imprinting technique allows us to produce more selective and optimized recognition sites for the detection of aromatic, halogenated, polycyclic hydrocarbons and even complex mixtures e.g. oil degradation, composting are also accessible to monitor at isomeric level.