Disclosed sensors can include at least one resonator (in some embodiments, at least two resonators) and various other structures that may be formed in association with the resonators. The at least one resonator in embodiments can include a bottom electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a top electrode, wherein the piezoelectric layer is positioned between the bottom electrode and the top electrode.

An analytical system and method for detecting volatile organic chemicals in water including a coated SAW detector that provides for improved reduction of moisture at the coating of the SAW detector. A stabilized SAW sensitivity and long lasting calibration is achieved. The analytical system further includes an improved sample vessel and sparger that allow for easy grab sample analysis, while also providing efficient purging of the volatile organic compounds from the water sample. In addition, an improved preconcentrator provides a stabilized sorbent bed.

A lithium tantalate single crystal substrate for a surface acoustic wave device that is a rotated Y-cut LiTaO3 substrate whose crystal orientation has a Y-cut angle of not smaller than 36° and not larger than 49° and which has such a Li concentration profile after diffusion of Li into the substrate from the surface thereof that the Li concentration at the surface of the substrate differs from that inside the substrate. A shear vertical type elastic wave whose main components are vibrations in the thickness direction and in the propagation direction and which is among those elastic waves which propagate in the X axis direction within the surface of this LiTaO3 substrate has an acoustic velocity of not lower than 3140 m/s and not higher than 3200 m/s.

According to improvement of the receptor layer of various sensors of the type for detecting physical parameters (for example, a surface stress sensor, QCM, and SPR), all of high sensitivity, selectivity, and durability are achieved simultaneously. A porous material or a particulate material, e.g., nanoparticles, is used in place of a uniform membrane which has been conventionally used as a receptor layer. Accordingly, the sensitivity can be controlled by changing the membrane thickness of the receptor layer, the selectivity can be controlled by changing a surface modifying group to be fixed on the porous material or particulate material, and the durability can be controlled by changing the composition and surface properties of the porous material or particulate material.

A system for determining one or more properties of one or more gases. The system comprises sensors configured to measure thermal conductivity and exothermic responses of a sample at multiple temperatures. Sensor responses to exposure to a gas sample at two or more temperatures are compensated and analyzed by a subsystem. The subsystem is configured to determine a thermal conductivity of the gas sample at each of the two or more temperatures and determine at least one component of the gas sample based at least in part on the thermal conductivity value of the sample at each of the two or more temperatures. Related systems and methods of determining one or more properties of a sample are also disclosed.

Devices that includes a first portion, the first portion including at least one fluid channel; a fluid actuator; an analysis sensor disposed within the fluid channel; a conductivity sensor disposed within the fluid channel; and an introducer; a second portion, the second portion comprising: at least one well, the well containing at least one material, wherein one of the first or second portion is moveable with respect to the other, wherein the introducer is configured to obtain at least a portion of the material from the at least one well and deliver it to the fluid channel, and wherein the fluid actuator is configured to move at least a portion of the material in the fluid channel.

The virus test device encompasses a pseudo-receptor film having pseudo-receptors mimicking a structure of a host-cell receptor, which binds specifically to a target virus, a virus introducing-tube for sucking down an air-under-test (AUT) containing the target viruses, to compress the AUT into a high-speed air-flow of aerosols-under-test, concentrating the target viruses contained in the AUT, and to eject the high-speed air-flow to the pseudo-receptor film, a signal conditioner for converting physical signals, which represent alterations of physical states of the pseudo-receptor film ascribable to specific bindings of the pseudo-receptors with the target viruses, to electric signals.

A micro total analysis system, operating method and manufacturing method thereof are provided. The micro total analysis system includes at least one micro total analysis unit each including: microfluidic device including first electrode and dielectric layer connected to each other, where the dielectric layer drives to-be-measured droplet to move based on voltage of the first electrode; and acoustic wave detection device including second electrode connected to the dielectric layer, where the dielectric layer is also used as transducer of the acoustic wave detection device, and configured to generate acoustic wave toward the droplet based on voltage of the second electrode, and generate a detection result corresponding to the droplet based on received acoustic wave. The micro total analysis system, the operating method and the manufacturing method thereof enables the microfluidic device and the acoustic wave detection device to be integrated in the same chip.

Disclosed herein is a chemical sensing system, comprising: a sensor configured to adsorb an analyte; an electronic circuit to operate the sensor; and a microcontroller in communication with the sensor and the electronic circuit. The microcontroller can also be configured to provide a real-time signal indicative of a concentration of the analyte. The sensor can comprise a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) resonator and a sensing film configured to adsorb the analyte, the sensing film coating at least a portion of the sensor. The MEMS resonator can comprise a second sensor, such as an impedimetric sensor to measure at least a second property of the sensing film. The electronic circuit can process signals stemming from at least two properties of the same sensing film, such as the changes in mass and dielectric constant of the same sensing film due to adsorption of analyte.

A molecular detection apparatus includes a detector. The detector includes: a vibrator having a piezoelectric member that has a first surface and a second surface, a first electrode connected to the first surface, a second electrode connected to the second surface, and a third electrode connected to the second surface and disconnected from the second electrode; a sensitive film overlapping at least one part of the second electrode and at least one part of the third electrode and configured to change a vibration frequency of the vibrator in response to an interaction with target molecules; and a detection electrode to detect the changed vibration frequency.