Polymer-based sensor array for phytochemical detection

Kanchana A. Weerakoon; Nitilaksha Hiremath; Bryan A. Chin

doi:10.1117/12.920512

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4 May 2012 Polymer-based sensor array for phytochemical detection

Kanchana A. Weerakoon, Nitilaksha Hiremath, Bryan A. Chin

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Proceedings Volume 8369, Sensing for Agriculture and Food Quality and Safety IV; 83690C (2012) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.920512
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2012, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Abstract

Monitoring for the appearance of volatile organic compounds emitted by plants which correspond to time of first insect attack can be used to detect the early stages of insect infestation. This paper reports a chemical sensor array consisting of polymer based chemiresistor sensors that could detect insect infestation effectively. The sensor array consists of sensors with micro electronically fabricated interdigitated electrodes, and twelve different types of electro active polymer layers. The sensor array was cheap, easy to fabricate, and could be used easily in agricultural fields. The polymer array was found to be sensitive to a variety of volatile organic compounds emitted by plants including γ-terpinene α-pinene, pcymene, farnesene, limonene and cis-hexenyl acetate. The sensor array was not only able to detect but also distinguish between these compounds. The twelve sensors produced a resistance change for each of the analytes detected, and each of these responses together produced a unique fingerprint, enabling to distinguish among these chemicals.

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Kanchana A. Weerakoon, Nitilaksha Hiremath, and Bryan A. Chin "Polymer-based sensor array for phytochemical detection", Proc. SPIE 8369, Sensing for Agriculture and Food Quality and Safety IV, 83690C (4 May 2012); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.920512

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