Abstract:
The present PhD-thesis shall demonstrate several strategies to achieve the selective enrichment of gaseous analyte molecules in sensitive
layers. In the focus of interest were pH-responsive polymers, microporous polymers and cyclohexapeptides. With pH-responsive polymers
a selective and sensitive detection of ammonia with a limit of detection of 150 ppb could be demonstrated. The operational stability in
comparison to dye-doped sol-gel layers could be enhanced noticeably. The dyeless optical detection avoids obstacles as leaching or
photobleaching of an indicator dye.
Microporous polymers enable the size selective detection of analyte molecules. E.g. the discrimination of analyte molecules such as R22
and R134a or methanol and 1-pentanol could be demonstrated. In comparison to frequently used enrichment matrices as
polydimethysiloxane or polyetherurethane a noticeable increase of selectivity was found.
The sorption of ethylacetate, toluene, n-octane, and anisole onto several hexapeptide monolayers was investigated. With increasing
permittivity of the analyte molecule an enhanced interaction inbetween the analyte and the hexapeptides was observed.
For the investigation of the sorption processe methods as spectroscopic ellipsometry, infrared spectroscopy and primarily reflectometric
interference spectroscopy (RIfS) were applied.
Parts of the present PhD-thesis are published in the following journals:
F. Rathgeb, G. Gauglitz, Optical gas sensors in analytical chemistry: applications & trends & general comments, Encyclopedia of
Analytical Chemistry, Instrumentation and Applications, (1999): in press
D. Leipert, F. Rathgeb, M. Herold, J. Mack, G. Gauglitz, G. Jung, Interaction between volatile organic compounds and cyclopeptides
detected with reflectometric interference spectroscopy, Anal. Chim. Acta, 392 (1999): 213-221
S. Kaspar, F. Rathgeb, D. Nopper, G. Gauglitz, Influence of relative humidity in sensing halogenated hydrocarbons with reflec