Hybrid ZnO-Phthalocyanine Nanostructured Sensitive Films for Virtual Sensor Arrays

Virtual chemical sensors concept is rooted in extracting additional information from sensors by measuring more parameters or acquiring responses under different conditions. A multisensor array is effective when each sensor provides unique and non-redundant information compared to the others. To obtain such information from a limited number of real sensors, we propose controlling the sensors’ selectivity profile by illumination. The responses of the same sensor operating under illumination are considered as virtual sensors. In this work, hybrid organo-inorganic photosensitive architectures based on nanostructured ZnO sensitized by phthalocyanines as organic light-harvesting components were created and studied. It is demonstrated that both the response amplitudes and selectivity profiles of QCM sensors change under illumination, providing responses that can be considered as independent sensors. This approach allows the development of compact electronic devices based on a limited number of sensors whose selectivity profile can be shaped by light. This opens the path for further advancements in electronic nose systems, significantly increasing their universality and flexibility.