Enhanced sensory properties of a multichannel quartz crystal microbalance coated with polymeric nanobeads

In this study the sensorial performances of a four-channel quartz crystal microbalance implemented on a single quartz plate are reported and compared with those of four independent quartz crystal microbalances. Particular attention has been devoted to both cross talk in responses and sensor sensitivity. A recently synthesized nanostructured polymer, poly[phenylacetylene-(co-2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate)], has been used as chemical interactive material. The interactions of our sensor system with relative humidity are also reported. The multichannel device shows a better homogeneity of the mass sensitivity with a spread of the values less then 4% compared to a 50% spread observed in the set of four microbalances.