Photonic crystal sensor arrays based on metal-organic frameworks for detecting mixtures of volatile organics.

Detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is an important but

challenging task with a broad range of applications. For instance, the

accurate detection of VOC biomarkers in breath is a promising

diagnostic tool for replacing established blood tests. However,

traditional gas sensing devices suffer from limited lifetimes, low

selectivities, or bulky and expensive designs. Metal-organic

frameworks (MOFs) are a class of microporous crystalline materials

built up from metal ion nodes connected by multitopic organic

ligands. Because of their record-breaking internal surface area and

functionalizable pore interior, MOFs are studied extensively for gas

storage and adsorptive separations. Interestingly, these properties

also promise great potential for MOFs to improve the selectivity and

sensitivity of gas sensors. However, the integration of MOFs in

sensors is rarely reported due to a lack of suitable methods to

deposit and pattern MOF coatings. The aim of this project is to bridge

this gap by leveraging a novel methodology developed by the host

group to deposit smooth, pinhole-free MOF coatings from the vapor

phase. Building on this method, photonic crystal sensors will be

fabricated that detect VOCs at low concentrations by a change in

reflected color.