A sol-gel glass doped with one or more reagent that provides chemical interactions with diffusible solutes or components in an adjacent liquid or gas phase. The reagent(s), the solutes or the components can be any organic or inorganic compounds or materials of biological origin, including enzymes. The doped sol-gel glass in various forms is useful as an analytical test, chromatographic medium, sensor, catalyst or biocatalyst, electrode or enzyme electrode, and other detection devices.