Ethylene Sensor Using Metal Carbon Complexes

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for detecting ethylene gas are costly and impractical for field implementation due to its small size and limited chemical functionality, making it challenging to detect effectively.

Innovation Solution

A chemiresponsive sensor composition incorporating a conductive region with an alkene-interacting metal complex, such as cobalt(III) porphyrins or palladium(II) complexes, integrated with carbon nanotubes, which changes conductivity upon exposure to ethylene, allowing for reversible detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional methods are used to detect ethylene gas, then detection can be performed, but the cost is high and implementation in the field is impractical

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection reliabilityVSAvoidfield implementation ease

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the sensing material by using metal complexes with specific ligands (porphyrins, phthalocyanines, cyclam derivatives) that have enhanced selectivity and affinity for ethylene. This allows the sensor to detect ethylene at low concentrations (below 20 ppm) with high reliability while maintaining simplicity for field deployment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs composite materials consisting of metal complexes integrated with conductive materials such as carbon nanotubes. This composite structure provides both the chemical selectivity needed for reliable ethylene detection and the electrical conductivity necessary for practical sensor operation, enabling field implementation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Measurement precision

If a sensor uses an alkene-interacting metal complex to detect ethylene, then selectivity and stability are improved, but the sensor must maintain reversibility for continuous monitoring

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveethylene detection selectivityVSAvoidsensor reversibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs the metal complex-sensor system to be dynamically reversible. The metal complex binds ethylene with high selectivity and stability, but the binding is reversible, allowing the sensor to reset and continuously monitor ethylene levels. This dynamic equilibrium enables both precise measurement and adaptability for ongoing detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The sensor demonstrates increased robustness to oxygen and water, providing selective and stable detection of ethylene gas even in the presence of interferents, with the ability to detect concentrations down to below 20 ppm and exhibit linear responses to varying ethylene concentrations.

Implementation Method 1

a metal that binds to and activates an alkene such that it reacts with a nucleophile to provide a metal complex with a metal carbon single bond

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCoordination chemistry:

Implementation Method 2

The metal complex can react with the alkene to produce a chemiresistive response in the composition

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectChemiresistive effect:

Data Source

PatentUS11428681B2Gas sensors based upon metal carbon complexes

Publication Date: 2022.08.30 MASSACHUSETTS INST OF TECH

AI summary

A sensor can include a conductive region in electrical communication with at least two electrodes, the conductive region including a conductive material and an alkene-interacting metal complex.