Electrochemical Alcohol Sensors

Dear Colleagues,

Rapid, accurate, and reliable determination of ethanol concentrations is of paramount importance in industrial ethanol production, as well as in the determination of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) in potentially intoxicated individuals. Electrochemical sensing technologies have many advantages, most notably their portability low-cost, and high analytical performance. For example, many law enforcement agencies across the globe employ sensor technologies that determine BAC by measuring the breath-alcohol concentration (BrAS). These sensors are portable and mush less invasive than blood sampling. The most commonly used breath-alcohol sensor (BrAS) devices employ an electrochemical sensor, which employs a fuel cell design. Ethanol vapor is fed into the anode compartment where it is oxidized to several possible products, mainly acetaldehyde, acetic acid and possibly CO2. Protons migrate through the membrane and electrons are transported through the external circuit and into the cathode compartment where they combine with oxygen (from air) to form water. The current or charge transferred is directly related to concentration/amount of ethanol introduced into anode compartment. Thus, after calibration, the sensor can determine ethanol concentrations in unknown samples.

While these commercial devices have had commercial success, there is ample room for improvement. In particular, the fuel cell technology used in these systems dates back to the 1980s. There is significant room for advancement in these devices, particularly related new materials that could enhance sensitivity and/or improve reliability. In this context, this Special Issue invites authors to submit new research results in the area of electrochemical alcohol biosensors, for both vapor and solution phase. Potential topics of interest include:

• Electrocatalyst design and electrode structure development
• Membrane materials
• Sensor durability, degradation and/or tolerance to contaminants
• Development related to novel electrochemical sensor configuration
• Enzyme-mediated electrochemical sensors
• Novel electrochemical detection of ethanol

Prof. Dr. E. Bradley Easton
Guest Editor

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