Application of sensor arrays based on thin films of conducting polymers for chemical recognition of volatile organic solvents

The use of thin conducting polymer films (polyaniline, polypyrrole and poly-3-methylthiophene doped with ordinary mineral acids or monovalent anions, as well as heteropolyacids of Keggin type or corresponding heteropolyanions) as sensitive layers in the sensor arrays for chemical recognition of volatile organic analytes is investigated. The discrimination ability of various sensor subsets is evaluated by statistical analysis of the data retrieved from responses of 20 different polymer sensors to the vapors of nine volatile organic solvents. An approach for constructing optimal sensor array is developed and the method for systematic selection of separate sensors from the given set to achieve the required analyte recognition reliability is proposed.