Patent ID: 7135143

Claim:
A device for detecting the presence of a compound in a sample, comprising: (a) a substrate comprising a support with a metallized top surface; (b) a self-assembled monolayer comprising an alkanethiol attached to the metallized top surface of the substrate, the alkanethiol having a functional group that reversibly or irreversibly interacts with the compound, wherein the functional group comprises a metal selected from the group consisting of Cd, Rb, K, Li, Cs, Ag, Au, Zn, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zr, Nb, Ru, Rh, Hf, Ta, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, La, Sn, and Eu; and (c) a liquid crystal disposed on a top surface of the self-assembled monolayer opposite the side of the self-assembled monolayer attached to the metallized top surface of the substrate, the liquid crystal comprising a moiety that interacts with the functional group of the alkanethiol, wherein when the compound is present in a sample that contacts the self-assembled monolayer, the orientation of the liquid crystal disposed on the self-assembled monolayer is altered.