Patent ID: 8793849
Filing Date: 2014-08-05
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of fabricating a high frequency thickness shear mode (TSM) gas and organic vapor sensor comprising the steps of: providing a quartz piezoelectric crystal; milling a central region of the piezoelectric crystal to create an oscillating region of reduced thickness surrounded by a comparatively thicker outer region; depositing a first electrode having two opposing sides in the oscillating region on a first side of the piezoelectric crystal wherein the first electrode is on the oscillating region; depositing a second electrode having two opposing sides in the oscillating region on a second side of the piezoelectric crystal wherein the second electrode is on the oscillating region; and coating the side of the first electrode not on the oscillating region and the side of the second electrode not on the oscillating region with a polymer sensing film; wherein the polymer sensing film is capable of moving with oscillation of the sensor and allows for physisorbtion of an analyte; wherein the polymer used in the polymer sensing film is dependent on the analyte to be detected; wherein the polymer sensing film is a chemically-sorbent film that imparts selectivity and sensitivity towards a particular chemical; wherein the selectivity and sensitivity of the polymer sensing film produces the high frequency TSM gas and organic vapor sensor.