Title: Design and fabrication of sensitive carbon nanotubes/PMMA film for acetone vapour detection

Authors: Roghayeh Ghasempour, Azam Iraji zad, Mohammad Reza Hormozi Nezhad

Addresses: Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 14588-89694, Tehran, Iran. ' Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 14588-89694, Tehran, Iran; Department of Physic, Sharif University of Technology, P.O. Box 11155-9161, Tehran, Iran. ' Department of Chemistry and Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, 11155-9516, Iran

Abstract: We present gas sensing property of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) composite as the active element for acetone vapour detection at room temperature. The polymeric films were formed by spin coating method on SiO2 substrates. Then they were activated by dropping the CNTs suspension in acetone on the PMMA films. The CNT/PMMA films were characterised by SEM, TEM and Raman spectroscopy. Variation of film|s electrical resistance after exposure polar and non-polar gases is utilised as the principle of gas sensing. The experimental results showed that the samples present chemical selectivity and reversibility toward polar gases especially acetone vapour.

Keywords: acetone detection; polymethylmethacrylate; PMMA composite films; carbon nanotubes; CNTs; nanomanufactured sensors; nanomanufacturing; acetone vapour; nanotechnology; gas sensing.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNM.2010.033869

International Journal of Nanomanufacturing, 2010 Vol.5 No.3/4, pp.268 - 277

Published online: 02 Jul 2010 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article