A Review of Functional Design and Development Status of QCM-Type Odor Sensor System

Functional design of organic polymer thin films as the molecular recognition membrane of quartz crystal microbalance (QCM)-type odor sensor system is reviewed. The organic polymer materials which are used as the molecular recognition membrane of QCM odor sensors are selected in the view of solubility parameters. It is found that the solubility parameter is very useful to choice the organic polymers as the molecular recognition membrane of the QCM gas sensors for target gas and odor. It is also found that the use of polymer films with nano-wires is effective to increase the sensitivity of the QCM odor sensors.