Organized ultrathin organic films deposited by the Langmuir-Blodgett t
echnique may be used as the sensing layer in low-cost gas detection sy
stems. Two transduction methods, one based on electrical resistance ch
anges and the other exploiting the phenomenon of surface plasmon reson
ance, are contrasted. The use of pattern recognition methods to improv
e the selectivity of the sensor is also discussed.