A solid-state sensor platform for the detection of hydrogen cyanide gas

Embedded piezoresistive microcantilever (EPM) sensors provide a tiny, low-cost and simple platform for the detection of a variety of analytes. EPM sensors are small, MEMS-based devices consisting of a piezoresistive microcantilever partially embedded into a sensing material designed to respond volumetrically when exposed to a specific analyte. In this study, we have used EPM sensors to detect hydrogen cyanide gas released when crystalline potassium cyanide is exposed to acids. Results indicate that the EPM sensors provide a fast response (less than 5 s) to levels of HCN that may be lethal to humans. The same sensors show little or no response to pure sulfuric acid vapors.