Silicalite-1 coated ATR elements as sensitive chemical sensor probes

A novel sensitive chemical sensor probe has been fabricated. The sensor principle is based on silicalite-1 coated ATR (attenuated total reflection) elements and FTIR spectroscopy. The microporous silicalite-1 film enriches the analyte to the probe surface, thus increasing the sensitivity. At a relative pressure of n-hexane in helium of 6 × 10−5 the sensitivity of the probe is approximately 85 times higher for the silicalite-1 coated element compared to a 10 cm transmission gas cell and ca. 180 times higher compared to an uncoated element. The performance of the probe is illustrated by determination of an adsorption isotherm for n-hexane in silicalite-1.