SENSOR DEVICE FOR DETERMINING THE CONCENTRATION OF ANALYTES IN A LIQUID PHASE, PREFERABLY ALCOHOL AND/OR WATER, AND METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING THE SENSOR DEVICE

摘要

The present invention relates to a sensor device for determining the concentration of analytes in liquid mixtures, preferably for measuring the concentration of water in alcohol solutions or the concentration of alcohol in aqueous solutions. The invention also relates to micromanufacturing and thin film deposition techniques for manufacturing said sensor device, which is comprised of an array of interdigital electrodes (11) arranged as a grid, which are subsequently encapsulated by layers of insulating oxides (13) forming an optimal nanoscale thickness. Analyte concentration is expressed by the sensor as a function of the measurement of the combined impedance of the hybrid system, consisting of the impedance of the nanoscale insulating layer in combination with the impedance of the liquid phase analyte. Said sensor device can have a fixed or portable configuration, and gives the concentration of analytes of interest in a quick and practical manner, within a broad working range, said sensor device operating at ambient temperature, pressure and moisture.