Title: Functionalised multi-walled carbon nanotubes for chemical vapour detection

Authors: Imen Hafaiedh; Pierrick Clément; Hamdi Baccar; Eduard Llobet; Adnane Abdelghani

Addresses: Nanotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Applied Science and Technology, Carthage University, Centre Urbain Nord, Bp676, 1080 Charguia Cedex, Tunisia ' MINOS-EMaS, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Avda. Països Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain ' Nanotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Applied Science and Technology, Carthage University, Centre Urbain Nord, Bp676, 1080 Charguia Cedex, Tunisia ' MINOS-EMaS, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Avda. Països Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain ' Nanotechnology Laboratory, National Institute of Applied Science and Technology, Carthage University, Centre Urbain Nord, Bp676, 1080 Charguia Cedex, Tunisia

Abstract: Oxygen plasma functionalised Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (MWCNT) were used to prepare gas sensors that can operate at room temperature. Alumina substrates with interdigitated gold electrodes were employed as transducers and the air-brushing method was used to coat them with carbon nanotube film. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) images of deposited MWCNT were obtained. The sensing properties in the presence of acetone and ethanol vapours were measured by impedance spectroscopy. The resistance variation of the prepared MWCNT films increases with the concentration of the vapours. Limits of detection of 1.76 ppm and 4.03 ppm for ethanol and acetone were obtained, respectively, with good reproducibility.

Keywords: vapour sensors; MWCNT; multi-walled carbon nanotubes; chemical vapour detection; impedance spectroscopy; SEM; scanning electron microscopy; TEM; transmission electron microscopy; nanotechnology; gas sensors; alumina substrates; interdigitated gold electrodes; transducers.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2013.053518

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2013 Vol.10 No.5/6/7, pp.485 - 495

Published online: 27 Apr 2013 *

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