Colloidal particles used in sensing array

• US 20050241935A1
• Filed: 04/18/2005
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: California Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Severin, Erik J., Lewis, Nathan S., Briglin, Shawn M., Doleman, Brett J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,955,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/403.10
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/126 comprising organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/127 comprising nanoparticles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 977/957 Of chemical property or presence

Abstract

Chemical sensors for detecting analytes in fluids comprising a plurality of alternating nonconductive regions (comprising a nonconductive material) and conductive regions (comprising a conductive material). In preferred embodiments, the conducting region comprises a nanoparticle. Variability in chemical sensitivity from sensor to sensor is provided by qualitatively or quantitatively varying the composition of the conductive and/or nonconductive regions. An electronic nose for detecting an analyte in a fluid may be constructed by using such arrays in conjunction with an electrical measuring device electrically connected to the conductive elements of each sensor.

Claims

1. A device for detecting a chemical analyte, said device comprising:

a measuring apparatus;

a sensor array connected to the measuring apparatus having at least one sensor comprising electrically conductive and electrically non-conductive regions, wherein said conductive regions are comprised of a nanoparticle linked to said nonconductive regions, and

a response path through said nonconductive and said conductive regions.

2. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein the conductive and nonconductive regions comprise distinct materials.

3. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein the conductive region is a colloidal particle.

4. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 2, wherein the conductive region is a colloidal particle.

5. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 2, wherein the nonconductive region is linked to the conductive region.

6. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 4, wherein the nonconductive region is a cap on the colloidal particle.

7. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein said nanoparticle comprises a member selected from the group consisting of an organic material, an inorganic material or a mixed inorganic-organic material.

8. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 7, wherein said nanoparticle has a core, wherein said core is a member selected from the group consisting of a metal, a metal alloy, a metal oxide, an organic complex, a semiconductor, a superconductor and a mixed inorganic-organic complex.

9. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 8, wherein said core is a metal.

10. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 9, wherein said metal is a member selected from the group consisting of Ag, Au, Cu, Pt, Pd, Ni, AuCu and mixtures thereof.

11. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 10, wherein said metal is Au.

12. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein said nanoparticle comprises a gold cluster and an organic ligand.

13. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein said measuring device is an electrical measuring device.

14. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein said response is a member selected from the group consisting of resistance, impedance, capacitance, inductance, and a combination thereof.

15. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein at least one sensor of said array of sensors is a member selected from the group consisting of a surface acoustic wave sensor, a quartz microbalance sensor, a conductive composite;

a chemiresistor, a metal oxide gas sensor and a conducting polymer sensor, a dye-impregnated polymer film on fiber optic detector, a polymer-coated micromirror, an electrochemical gas detector, a chemically sensitive field-effect transistor, a carbon black-polymer composite, a micro-electro-mechanical system device and a micro-opto-electro-mechanical system device.

16. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein said response path is an electrical response path that is measured to detect the chemical analyte.

17. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 1, wherein said nonconductive material comprises a ligand.

18. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 17, wherein said ligand is polyfunctionalized.

19. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 17, wherein said ligand is omega-functionalized.

20. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 17, wherein said ligand is a member selected from the group consisting of an alkanethiol, a polymer, a surfactant, a detergent, a biomolecule, a polysaccharide, a protein complex, a polypeptide, a dendrimeric material, an oligonucleotide, a fluorescent moiety, a radioactive group, and mixtures thereof.

21. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 20, wherein said ligand is a C₁-C₃₀ alkanethiol.

22. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 17, wherein said ligand is a C₃-C₁₂ alkanethiol.

23. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 20, wherein said alkanethiol is polyfunctionalized.

24. The device for detecting a chemical analyte according to claim 20, wherein said ligand is omega-functionalized.