Piezoelectric crystal sensor with a plasticized poly(vinly chloride) coating for determination of trace amounts of ethanol vapour

Abstract

A new type of piezoelectric sensor with a coating supported by adding the active material ETH6022 (N-acetyl-N-dodecyl-4-trifluoroacetylaniline) to a plasticized PVC polymer matrix (PCS–PVC) was successfully prepared for detecting trace amounts of ethanol vapour. Compared with the traditional piezoelectric crystal sensor (PCS) using a single active material coating, the useful lifetime of the new sensor is extended strikingly from several days to more than 2 months, which is comparable to that of an ion-selective electrode. The reproducibility of PCS–PVC is also improved. The new coating method for the sensor was also applied to extending the useful lifetime of other classical gas-sensitive PCSs.