Calix[4]arene coated QCM sensors for detection of VOC emissions: Methylene chloride sensing studies

•The sensing studies of QCM sensors with coated some calixarene derivatives bearing different functional groups for some VOCs were performed.•New sensors were most favorable for MC emissions rather than the others.•QCM sensor coated with calix-7 bearing both amino and imidazole groups was most versatile sensor for MC emissions with 54.1 ppm of detection limit.•Cyclic structures, H-bonding capabilities and also good preorganization properties of calixarene derivatives played an important role in VOC sensing processes.•The random arranging of calix[4]arene molecules on surface of QCM crystal have affected the sensing efficiency.

This paper describes the sensing studies of QCM sensors with coated some calixarene derivatives bearing different functional groups for some selected Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) such as acetone, acetonitrile, carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, methylene chloride (MC), N,N-dimethylformamide, 1,4-dioxane, ethanol, ethyl acetate, xylene, methanol, n-hexane and toluene. The initial experiments have revealed that whole the calix[4]arene modified QCM sensors exhibited strongest sensing ability to MC emissions. Thus, the detailed studies were performed for only MC emissions after the determination of relatively more effective calix-coated QCM sensors for MC emissions in aqueous media. The results demonstrated that QCM sensor coated with calix-7 bearing both amino and imidazole groups was most useful sensor for MC emissions with 54.1 ppm of detection limit. Moreover, it was understood that cyclic structures, H-bonding capabilities and also good preorganization properties of calixarene derivatives played an important role in VOC sensing processes.

Graphical abstractThis paper describes sensing studies of QCM sensors with coated some calixarene derivatives bearing different functional groups for some selected volatile organic compounds especially methylene chloride.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide