Sensing characteristics of chemical agents by using liquid crystal-based chemical and biological sensors

This paper reports the design of a microstructure comprising an interdigitated capacitance structure for the detection of vapor-phase analytes based on nematic liquid crystal (NLC) sensor. The NLC sensor is tested by using demethyl-methylphosphonate (DMMP) detection to change the orientational response of the liquid crystal molecules and demonstrated by the optical monitoring as well as the capacitive monitoring. Finally, vapor-phase analyte concentrations down to the parts-per-billion (ppb) level have been tested.