In this work we analyse basic characteristics of Love wave sensors implemented in waveguide structures composed of a lossy viscoelastic surface layer deposited on a lossless elastic substrate. It has to be noted that Love wave sensors working at ultrasonic frequencies have the highest mass density sensitivity $S_σ^(v_p )$ among all known ultrasonic sensors, such as QCM, Lamb wave or Rayleigh wave sensors. In this paper we have established an exact analytical formula for the mass density sensitivity $S_σ^(v_p )$ of the Love wave sensors in the form of an explicit algebraic expression. Subsequently, using this developed analytical formula, we compared theoretically the mass density sensitivity $S_σ^(v_p )$ for various Love wave waveguide structures, such as: (1) lossy PMMA surface layer on lossless Quartz substrate and (2) lossy PMMA on lossless Diamond substrate. The performed analysis shows that the mass density sensitivity $S_σ^(v_p )$ (real and imaginary part) for a sensor with a structure PMMA on Diamond is five times higher than that of a PMMA on Quartz structure. It was found that the mass density sensitivity $S_σ^(v_p )$ for Love wave sensors increases with the increase of the ratio: bulk shear wave velocity in the substrate to bulk shear wave velocity in the surface layer.

Vapors of benzene and its derivatives are harmful and toxic for human beings and natural environment. Their detection has fundamental importance. For this purpose authors propose surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensor with skeletonized layer deposited by Langmuir-Blodgett (L-B) method. This layer was obtained by depositing a binary equimolar mixture of 5-[[1,3-dioxo-3-[4-(1-oxooctadecyl) phenyl]propyl]amino]–1,3–benzenedicarboxylic acid with cetylamine. The skeletonized sensor layer has been obtained by removing cetylamine. Response of this sensor depends mainly of the electrical dipole momentum of molecule. Among the tested compounds, benzene has a zero dipole moment and gives the smallest sensor response, and nitrobenzene has the largest dipole moment and the sensor reacts most strongly to its vapor.