Sorption Kinetic Parameters from Nanomechanical Sensing for Discrimination of 2-Nonenal from Saturated Aldehydes.

Abstract

Nanomechanical sensors have gained significant attention as promising platforms for artificial olfaction. Since sorption kinetic parameters that can be estimated from the sensing signals of nanomechanical sensors reflect the chemical and physicochemical interactions between the odorant and receptor material, the parameters can be utilized for the direct discrimination of each odorant. In this study, we demonstrated the discrimination of 20 vapors, including hydrocarbons, alcohols, organic acids, ketones, and aldehydes, which are reported as human body odor components, using the parameters extracted in the analytical solution of nanomechanical sensors based on sorption kinetics with viscoelastic behaviors. By using one of the specific nanomechanical sensors─membrane-type surface stress sensor─as a sensing unit, we successfully discriminated trans-2-nonenal known as an aging marker from other saturated aldehydes along with quantifying their concentrations.