An overview of acoustic wave sensors for gas sensing is presented from both
a fundamental and a practical point of view. The main interaction mechanis
ms between the acoustic wave and gaseous species are briefly reviewed, foll
owed by a descriptive survey of the different types of sensors. Detailed re
sults for the sensitivity of different acoustic modes are presented with nu
merical examples for realistic cases. A critical discussion is given of sev
eral approaches to chemical selectivity and the many practical issues of im
portance for environmental sensing. Anticipated future trends are presented
in the conclusion. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.