Dual-Hydrogen Bond Donors for Chemical Sensors: Transducing Chemical Interactions into Electrical Signals

Abstract

Dual-hydrogen bond donors are molecular selectors capable of forming directional hydrogen bonds with various chemical species. Structural tunability of these selectors enables the precise control of binding affinity and selectivity, making them highly attractive for chemical sensing applications. As a result, considerable research has focused on developing chemical sensors utilizing dual-hydrogen bond donors as selectors. The selectivity and sensitivity of such sensors can be enhanced by tailoring the molecular structures of dual-hydrogen bond donors and modulating their hydrogen bonding ability. These features offer significant potential for developing diverse chemical sensors that utilize various signal transduction mechanisms. As electrical signals can be readily acquired, processed, stored, and transmitted, sensors that convert chemical interactions into electrical signals are considered highly suitable for real-time monitoring and device integration. In this review, we provide an overview of dual-hydrogen bond donors, focusing on their structural characteristics, acidity, and hydrogen bonding properties. We then highlight their applications in chemical sensors designed for gas-and liquid-phase analyte detection. In conclusion, this review offers comprehensive insight into the correlation between the chemical structure of dual-hydrogen bond donors and their sensing performances.