Functionalized screen-printed PZT cantilevers for room temperature benzene detection

Here we study the performance of screen-printed PZT cantilevers coated with either active carbon or tin oxide for room temperature detection of benzene traces. It is found that the first longitudinal mode of active carbon coated cantilevers is extremely sensitive to benzene. Shifts of -13 and -144 Hz are respectively recorded for 1 and 10 ppm of benzene. These negative shifts indicate that the response mechanism is driven by a mass absorption effect. The sensors regain the baseline values of their characteristic resonance frequencies by cleaning in air and without heating. These results are promising for the development of a hand-held benzene detector. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd.