Designing Polymeric Sensing Materials: What are we Doing Wrong?

Abstract

Gas analytes, or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), interact with polymeric sensing materials through various sensing mechanisms. The dominant sensing mechanisms are discussed for different types of VOCs, which are categorized by their functional groups. Based on these sensing mechanisms, a systematic approach is used to design and tailor polymeric sensing materials for specific analytes and applications. This approach also takes into consideration other constraints determined by the target application. We include practical prescriptions on how to efficiently and cost-effectively design, tailor, and select potential polymeric sensing materials, as well as how to evaluate these sensing materials.