Design approaches, chemical detection

Abstract Chemists may find it difficult to admit that their concepts and opportunities have always been strongly influenced by the available methods for characterization and analysis. Physics, has, of course, the lead when it comes to the visualization of single molecules in real space and to the detection of their specific, not ensemble-averaged properties. The challenge for chemistry is to provide molecules as objects of study which really disclose new concepts of structure and function. This chapter presents a chemical approach toward nanosciences which comprises (i) design and synthesis, (ii) immobilization, often using principles of self-assembly, (iii) visualization, e.g. by scanning probe... 

Five of the criteria are normally considered when any air pollution monitor is designed however, the fifth criterion—portability—is essential in a personal monitor. Obviously, this requirement has an impact on the other criteria because it establishes a challenge for achieving specificity for a chemical or suite of chemicals, for low detection limits for adequate determination of the concentration and exposure, and for units that are not cost-prohibitive. Sensitivity of current personal monitors is less than that for stationary monitoring techniques. Thus, entirely new approaches appear to be necessary for detection of a contaminant in a personal monitor. 

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