Special Issue "Advances in Transducers"

Guest Editor
Prof. Dr. Soh Chee Kiong
Division of Structures and Mechanics, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Office N1-01a-26, College of Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
E-Mail:
Interests: piezo-impedance transducers; fiber optic sensors; ionic polymer metallic composites; damage prognosis; structural health monitoring; harvesting clean environmental energy

Dear Colleagues,

Transducers are devices which convert one form of energy or physical attribute into another for purposes such as measurement or information transfer. Basically, there are three kinds of transducers. The sensor is used to detect a parameter in one form of energy and report it in another form. The actuator is used to transform energy, generally from electrical into nonelectrical energy or vice versa. The third kind of transducer has both functions, and can switch between acting as an actuator and acting as a sensor. This special issue of SENSORS will report on the recent advances made in all kinds and types of transducers such as the electromagnetic transducers, electrochemical transducers, electromechanical transducers, electroacoustic transducers, photoelectric transducers, electrostatic transducers, thermoelectric transducers, radioacoustic transducers, fiber-optic transducers and biological transducers.

Prof. Dr. Soh Chee Kiong
Guest Editor

Submission

• transducers
• sensors
• actuators
• energy
• transduction
• conversion
• transformation
• measurement
• information transfer

Type of Article: Article
Title: Layer-by-Layer Films Containing Phospholipid, Iron Phthalocyanine and Ag Nanoparticles as Transducers for Electronic Tongue Systems and in situ SERS
Authors: P. Alessio, P.H.B. Aoki, M.L. Rodriguez-Mendez, J.A. De Saja, A. Riul Jr. and C.J.L. Constantino; E-Mail: case@fct.unesp.br
Abstract: The Layer-by-Layer (LbL) technique was used to prepare thin films containing negative phospholipids (dipalmitoyl phosphatidyl glycerol - DPPG - and cardiolipin - CLP), iron tetrasulphonated phthalocyanine (FeTsPc) and Ag nanoparticles (AgNP). The LbL films were applied as transducers in electronic tongue systems characterized through impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry to detect cathecol in aqueous solutions. Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra were collected directly from the sensing units before and after exposing to cathecol (in situ SERS). The whole of each material composing the sensing unit is evaluated. Complementary, the growth and morphology of the LbL films were followed by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), respectively.

Type of Paper: Review
Title: Advanced Taste Sensor
Authors: Kiyoshi Toko et al.
Affiliation: Graduate School of Information Science and Electrical Engineering, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan; E-Mail: toko@ed.kyushu-u.ac.jp
Abstract: The receptor part of a taste sensor is composed of the lipid/polyer membrane, the electric potential of which changes for taste substances. A recent study has enabled each membrane respond selectively to each taste qualities. The developed membrane responds to only one taste quality and can quantify it. It implies that the receptor part has selectivity, different from usual electronic tongues. The taste sensor composed of several kinds of receptor membranes with different taste characteristics, can distinguish each taste samples from other, and also quantify the taste such as sourness, saltiness, bitterness and astringency. The priciple and many application examples are explained.