Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Based Sensors for Selective Detection of Chemical Pollutants

Abstract

This work reports the design of a resistive gas sensor based on 2D mats of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). The sensor sensitivity was optimised using chlorine by tuning both MWCNT network morphology and MWCNT electronic properties. Raw CNT were compared with annealed CNT. Besides, with the aim to enhance the sensor sensitivity and selectivity for detection of several gases, MWCNT were functionalized with poly (phenylene)-like or vinyl polymers using a process based on the diazonium chemistry. In this paper, we will mention the preparation of such sensors and we will demonstrate that the optimized devices are operating at room temperature, for the detection of pollutants such as chlorine, hydrogen chloride and ammonia. Such sensors are able to detect down to 30 ppb of pollutant, in particular for chlorine.

SiO2/MgO coated multiwalled carbon nanotubes in polymer composites

“…Since their discovery 1 carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been in the center of the scientific interest due to their excellent mechanical 2, 3 and electric 4, 5 properties. Because of these attributes, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are often used in chemical sensors 6, 7, electronic devices 8, 9, and as reinforcing material in polymer composites 10–12. The preparation of uniform MWCNT/polymer composite is a huge challenge, because MWCNTs do not disperse homogeneously in the polymer matrix because of the van der Waals forces between the MWCNTs and poor surface wetting properties.…”