Optical Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds: A Review of Methods and Functionalized Sensing Materials

Abstract With growing awareness of the detrimental effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on human health and their potential in disease screening, the demand for effective detection methods has surged. Optical detectors are highly desirable because of their excellent versatility, fast response time, and suitability for remote detection. This review aims to analyze various optical sensors for VOC detection, focusing on the functionalizing materials used in different optical transducers. The review is organized into six sections, each covering a different sensor category based on the type of optical phenomenon utilized for VOC detection: diffraction, interference, polarization change, optical resonance, absorption, and evanescent wave propagation. Achievable sensitivities, limitations, and advantages of each approach are discussed, providing valuable insights for the development of advanced VOC detection technologies.