Chemical sensors and sensor technology

The field of chemical sensors beautifully reflects the intimate interaction between chemistry and physics on one hand, and between fundamental research and application on the other. The detailed physico-chemical insight into atomistic interactions leads to the formulation of sensing principles and the construction of sensors, while the study of selectivity, sensitivity, and speed of sensor action enhances significantly our current understanding of elementary mechanisms.

The field of chemical and biochemical sensors experienced a first boom in the 70s and 80s of the 20th century at a time when microelectronics was introduced in industry for complete automation. Today's trends in chemical sensor development aim at a continuous in-line or on-line characterization of all chemical substances present, at miniaturized sensors for cost-effective and highly sensitive devices, at implantable biosensors, or at biosensors which continuously monitor changes in analyte concentration, to name just a few. These examples show that despite the strong efforts of the last 30 years, research in the field of sensors is still challenging. It is furthermore a field which brings together scientists from different disciplines, from chemistry, biology, physics, and engineering, making physical chemists into well trained specialists understanding the different languages and techniques.

During the 102nd Bunsentagung held in Kiel, Germany, plenary lectures were presented by W. Knoll, MPI for Polymer Research Mainz, on principles and new developments of biosensors, by H. Meixner, Siemens Munich, on industrially relevant sensors, and by J. Janata, Georgia Tech Atlanta, on solid state electrochemical sensors based on different materials including organic semiconductors. Six invited lectures on automotive sensors (U. Alkemade, Bosch Stuttgart), optical sensors (G. Gauglitz, Tübingen), sensors and analytical chemistry (K. Cammann, ICB Münster), new biosensor concepts (U. Wollenberger, Potsdam), inorganic solid electrolyte sensors (U. Guth, Meinsberg), and odor analysis (D. Kohl, Gießen), complemented the general overview. 36 contributed talks and 13 poster presentation gave insight into new developments. Because of the high industrial impact of sensors, a separate symposium highlighted several aspects of industrial applications.

The idea of making chemical sensors a topic for the Bunsentagung was raised several years ago by our mentor Wolfgang Göpel, one of the pioneers in this field. We greatly regret his untimely death in 1999, and hence we devote this special issue to his memory.

Christiane Ziegler, Kaiserslautern.

Joachim Maier, Stuttgart.

Hans-Dieter Wiemhöfer, Münster.

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