SUPRAMOLECULAR INTERACTIONS ON MASS SENSITIVE SENSORS IN GAS PHASES AND LIQUIDS

Quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensors are able to detect supramole cular interactions between cage compounds, liquid crystals or bioorgan ic materials fixed at the sensor surface and guest molecules from gase s or liquids. Although the QCM is a mass sensitive device other materi al parameters of the coating and the analyte might contribute signific antly to the frequency shift of the sensor. Thus these supramolecular devices can be used for the detection of small concentrations of analy tes as well as monitoring material properties.