A SURFACE-ACOUSTIC-WAVE GAS SENSOR FOR ORGANOPHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS

The results of a study dealing with surface acoustic wave gas sensors for organophosphorus compounds such as nerve agents are described. Sev eral lanthanum coordination compounds were used as the chemical interf ace. The sensors prepared were tested with both the nerve agent sarin and the simulant dimethyl methylphosphonate. The following aspects wer e studied: sensitivity, selectivity, reversibility and response rate a s well as the effect of structural features. Detection limits down to 0.1 ppm were found. Response rates will require further improvement. D egradation phenomena were observed, which in some cases yielded irreve rsible responses. The selectivity for organophosphorus compounds was f ound to be promising.