ABSTRACT
In the interests of evaluating chemical “sensors,” where the bulk of the complete system is the sensor itself, this chapter focuses on non-optical chemical sensors. It explains the basic issues associated with selectivity and interference and highlights some of the most promising advances in enhancing selectivity and reducing interference that support continued commercialization of chemical sensor products. Most non-optical chemical sensors rely on a direct interaction between an analyte and the active sensor area. Chemical sensors can respond with selectivity ranging from one-to-one (lock-and-key) to broadly selective (reducing gases) interactions with analytes of interest. In many commercial sensor applications, it is highly desirable to sense one analyte with one sensor. Selectivity of many broadly selective, chemically sensitive materials and chemical sensors can be adjusted through a range of parameters. Additional selectivity can be incorporated into chemical sensors via the addition of catalysts to the sensor material. Electrochemical sensors are the one of the most popular commercially available chemical sensors.
