Analytical Sciences


Abstract − Analytical Sciences, 20(2), 291 (2004).

Effect of the Size of Molecularly Imprinted Polymers Sensing Materials on Piezoelectric Quartz Crystal Sensor Performance
Zhaohui ZHANG, Yingju LIU, Yumei LONG, Lihua NIE, and Shouzhuo YAO 
State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
The effect of the size of the molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) on the piezoelectric quartz crystal (PQC) sensor performance was investigated. Erythromycin imprinted polymers microspheres with different sizes were synthesized by precipitation polymerization. The size of the MIPs was characterized by using transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis. Being coated with a poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane containing MIPs, the proposed PQC sensor can selectively adsorb the template molecule. Investigation of the performance of sensors modified with different sizes of MIPs showed that PQC sensor modified with smaller size MIPs exhibited better performance and excellent selectivity. Other influencing factors on sensor functions modified with different sizes MIPs were also investigated.