Porphyrins-based opto-electronic nose for volatile compounds detection

Thin films of different metalloporphyrins have been used as sensing materials for the development of optical sensors for the detection of different volatile organic compounds (VOC). Absorption spectra of thin films showed changes after interactions with analytes. The development of a measurement set-up is discussed and the results obtained in the context of some VOC's detection an reported. Data have been analyzed considering both stand alone sensors (looking at the response isotherm and sensitivity comparison) and each sensor as a component of an opto-electronic nose. In this last case the capability in distinguishing different volatile compounds and the contribution of each sensor has been investigated by means of a self organizing map. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.