The book exhaustively covers the various polymers that are used for sensors and actuators from the perspective of organic chemistry.

The field of polymeric sensors and actuators is developing very rapidly as newly derived polymer materials are suitable for sensor technology. This book uniquely and comprehensively covers the various polymers that are used for sensors and actuators. The author has researched both scientific papers and patents to include all the recent discoveries and applications. Since many chemists may not be very familiar with the physical background as well as how sensors operate,Polymeric Sensors and Actuators includes a general chapter dealing with the overall physics and basic principles of sensors. Complementary chapters on their methods of fabrication as well as the processing of data are included. The actuators sections examine the fields of applications, special designs, and materials. The final chapter is dedicated to liquid crystal displays. The book concludes with four extensive indices including one special one on analytes to allow the practitioner to easily use the text.

This comprehensive text examines the following sensor types:

Johannes Karl Fink is a professor of macromolecular chemistry at Montanuniversität, Loeben, Austria. His industry and academic career spans more than thirty years in the fields of polymers, and his research interests include characterization, flame retardancy, thermodynamics and degradation of polymers, pyrolysis, and adhesives. Professor Fink has published several books on physical chemistry and polymer science includingA Concise Introduction to Additives for Thermoplastic Polymers (Wiley/Scrivener) andHandbook of Engineering and Specialty Thermoplastics (Wiley/Scrivener).

Preface v

1. Sensor Types and Polymers 11.1 Sensor Types 21.2 Basic Polymer Types 19

2. Methods of Fabrication 412.1 Patterning Techniques 412.2 Coating Techniques 412 3 Electrospinning 462.4 Molecular Imprinted Polymers 482.5 Sensor Arrays 502.6 Ink J et Fabrication 57

3. Processing of Data 673.1 Evaluation of Multivariate Data 673.2 Response of a Sensor Array 683.3 Least Square Method 693.4 Linear Solvation Energy Relationships 703.5 Euclidean Fuzzy Similarity 713.6 Adaptive Resonance Theory 713.7 Modelling of Sensors 723.8 Bioinspired Models for Pattern Recognition 74

4. Humidity Sensors 774.1 Calibration 784.2 Capacitive Humidity Sensors 784.3 Resistance Type Humidity Sensors 814.4 Bragg Grating Sensor 874.5 Fiber Optic Sensor 924.6 Surface Acoustic Wave Based Sensors 924.7 Microwave Oven Humidity Sensors 96

5. Biosensors 1015.1 Waveguide Sensors 1025.2 Active Elements 1045.3 Special Examples 107

6. Mechanical Sensors 1296.1 Bending Sensors 1296.2 Cantilever Type Sensors 1306.3 Micromechanical Oscillators 1306.4 Microelectromechanical Capacitor Array 1326.5 Change in Thermodynamic Properties 1326.6 Dielectric Elastomer Sensors 1326.7 Polymers for Mechanical Sensors 1336.8 Cardiac Infarction Monitoring 135

7. Optical Sensors 1397.1 Conjugated Polymers 1397.2 Amplified Fluorescent Polymers 1457.3 Nanostructured Materials 1607.4 Micelle-Induced Fluorescent Sensors 1647.5 Fiber Sensors 1647.6 Waveguides 1677.7 Chiral Sensors 1687.8 Molecularly Imprinted Polymers 1687.9 Glucose Sensors 1727.10 Hydrophilic Polymer Matrices 1807.11 Special Analytes 1817.12 pH Sensors 207

8. Surface Plasmon Resonance 2258.1 Application as Sensors 2258.2 Basic Principle 2268.3 Theory 2268.4 Waveguide Surface Plasmon Resonance 2298.5 Nanoparticles 2308.6 Surface Plasmon Resonance with Fibers 2348.7 Combinations with other Principles 2358.8 Examples for Use 235

9. Test Strips 2419.1 Cations 2419.2 Anions 2439.3 Organic Analytes 2469.4 Immunochromatographic Tests 2549.5 Bacteria 260

10. Electrochemical Sensors10.1 Basic Principles 26910.2 Carbon Nanotube Field Effect Transistors 27610.3 Chemical Resistors 27710.4 Temperature Sensors 28210.5 Smart Textiles 28510.6 Molecularly Imprinted Polymers 28710.7 Other Analytes 298

11. Piezoelectric Sensors 31711.1 Theoretical Aspects 31711.2 Automotive Applications 31811.3 Paint Sensors 31911.4 Molecular Imprinted Polymers 32011.5 Food Safety Applications 32211.6 Gases 32311.7 Tactile Sensors 325

12. Acoustic Wave Sensors 33112.1 Analytes 331

13. Electronic Nose 34313.1 Methods for Validation 34313.2 Medical Applications 34913.3 Fire Detectors 35513.4 Pipeline Inspection 35613.5 Sensing Arrays with Colloidal Particles 35713.6 Nanodisk Sensor Arrays 35813.7 Food Testing 36013.8 Soil Volatile Fingerprints 365

14. Switchable Polymers 36914.1 Shape-memory Polymers 37014.2 Chemical Switches 37114.3 pH Sensitive Switches 38414.4 Photo Responsive Switches 39014.5 Molecular Gates 39314.6 Thermofluorescence Memories 39614.7 Electric and Magnetic Switches 39814.8 Switchable Wettability 40014.9 Multiple Responsive Switches 40214.10 Environmental Uses 404

15. Actuators 41515.1 Mathematical Model 41715.2 Fields of Application and Special Designs 4195.3 Materials 42615.4 Carbon Based Conductive Materials 44715.5 Medical Applications 45215.6 Optical Applications 45415.7 Pumping Applications 456

16. Liquid Crystal Displays 46716.1 Basic Design 46716.2 Polymers 47116.3 Special Display Types 47716.4 Viewing Helps 479

References 483

Index 487

Acronyms 487

Chemicals 490

Analytes 501

General Index 504