US 2009/0260423 A1 · Sensors with improved properties

Abstract

A sensor or a sensor array connected to an electrical measuring apparatus is disclosed. In one embodiment, at least one sensor contains a layer of conductive modified particles which forms an electrical pathway or electrical circuit between two electrodes which are connected to an electrical measuring apparatus. In another embodiment, the first sensor contains at least one region of a nonconducting material and also a region that contains one or more modified particles. The modified particles are preferably conductive. An electrical path exists though the regions of the nonconducting material and the region containing the modified particles. The modified particles are conductive and more preferably are pigment particles such as modified carbon black, wherein the modified particles have attached at least one organic group. Alternatively, or in addition, the modified particle can be an aggregate having a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase and/or a metal-containing species phase wherein the aggregate optionally has attached at least one organic group. A sensor array for detecting an analyte in a fluid is also disclosed wherein each sensor emits a different response signature to an analyte wherein at least one of the sensors contains at least the modified particles as described above. Also, the present invention relates to a method for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid. The method involves contacting one or more sensors as described above with the analyte to generate a response and detecting the response with a detector that is operatively associated with each sensor in order to detect the presence of an analyte. Other advantages and embodiments are further described.

Claims61

Dependent claims

A sensor for detecting an analyte in a fluid, wherein said sensor comprises a layer comprising conductive modified particles, wherein the layer comprising conductive modified particles has a preexisting resistance that is altered in the presence of the analyte, wherein said conductive modified particles comprise carbon products or colored pigments having at least one organic group covalently bonded to the particles,

wherein said sensor includes an electrical measuring apparatus electrically connected to the layer comprising conductive modified particles that detects an alteration in the preexisting resistance of the layer in the presence of the analyte.

An array of sensors for detecting an analyte in a fluid, said sensor array comprising:

a first and a second sensor electrically connected to an electrical measuring apparatus, wherein said first sensor comprises a region of nonconducting material and a region comprising conductive modified particles;
and an electrical path through said region of nonconducting material and said region comprising conductive modified particles, wherein the region of nonconducting material and the region comprising conductive modified particles have a preexisting resistance that is altered in the presence of the analyte, wherein said conductive modified particles comprise carbon products or colored pigments having at least one organic group covalently bonded to the particles, aggregates comprising a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase and optionally having attached at least one organic group, aggregates comprising a carbon phase and metal-containing species phase optionally having attached at least one organic group, silica-coated carbon blacks, or combinations thereof and wherein the electrical measuring apparatus detects an alteration in the preexisting resistance in the presence of the analyte.

A method for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid, said method comprising:

providing a sensor array comprising a first and a second sensor electrically connected to an electrical measuring apparatus, wherein said first sensor comprises a region of nonconducting material and a region comprising conductive modified particles;
and an electrical path through said region of nonconducting material and said region comprising conductive modified particles wherein the region of nonconducting material and the region comprising conductive modified particles have a preexisting resistance that is altered in the presence of the analyte and wherein the electrical measuring apparatus detects an alteration in the preexisting resistance in the presence of the analyte;
contacting said sensor array with said analyte to generate a response;
detecting said response with a detector that is operatively associated with each sensor, and thereby detecting the presence of said analyte, wherein said conductive modified particles comprise carbon products or colored pigments having covalently bonded thereto at least one organic group, aggregates comprising a carbon phase and a silicon-containing species phase and optionally having attached at least one organic group, aggregates comprising a carbon phase and metal containing species phase optionally having attached at least one organic group, silica-coated carbon blacks, or combinations thereof.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Sensors with improved properties

Life of this patent

Sensors with improved properties

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims61