MP-SPR for gas sensor development

Unlike traditional SPR, MP-SPR can work also with gas and vapor samples. It can be used to finetune sensitive coatings for specific gas components. Amongst others, MP-SPR is able to detect hydrogen (2 Dalton) on Palladium surface. Also surface interaction with different humidity can be studied at the nanoscale (more on gas barrier development here).

See reasons why choose MP-SPR for gas sensor development:

• Easy ex-situ modification of SPR surfaces with material/coating of your choice
• Works both with gas and liquid samples
• Sensitive to small molecules as well as nanoparticles
• Validation with electrochemistry is possible

See key questions in assay development that MP-SPR can answer:

• How fast do the molecules X bind with surface A as compared to surface B?
• What is the most sensitive surface for gas X?
• How does my assay work with crude sample such as waste air?

See a few selected Application Notes to see that MP-SPR works:

• AN#159 Material swelling studies using MP-SPR: Cellulose in water vapor and polymer barrier in solvent vapors
• AN#140 Gold nanoparticles for biosensing

Material swelling studies using MP-SPR: Cellulose in water vapor and polymer barrier in solvent vapors

Application Note #159

Figure 1. Swelling of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) in water vapors and the uptake of ethanol and toluene vapor by block copolymer films were measured using MP-SPR.

Multi-Parametric Surface Plasmon Resonance (MP-SPR) detects interaction of vapors with different materials in real time and without help of any labels. As the method works with thin films and minute volumes, the measurements are fast and highly sensitive. 

Swelling of nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) in water vapors was measured using MP-SPR. Saturated saline solutions were utilized to form different water vapor contents to passing air flow. and the thickness of the film changed from 34.5 nm to 36.1 nm.

In a separate study, the uptake of ethanol and toluene vapor by block copolymer films was studied using MP-SPR. The uptake showed linear increase when vapor concentration was changed from 0% to 100% using 10% steps, and barrier properties of the film were evaluated.

Recommended instrument for this application: