Selectivity of Multi-wall Carbon Nanotube Network Sensoric Units to Ethanol Vapors Achieved by Carbon Nanotube Oxidation

Abstract

Two kinds of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) networks "buckypaper" were made by the vacuum filtration method of MWCNT aq. suspension. The first one was prepd. from pure CNT and the second from its oxidized form. The CNT oxidn. increase content of oxygen bonded to the surface of CNT. The sensitivity of MWCNT networks to org. solvent vapors (ethanol and heptane) was investigated by resistance measurements. The solvents had different polarities given by Hansen soly. parameters and nearly the same vol. fractions of satd. vapors at the condition of expt. CNT oxidn. significantly increases the sensitivity of CNT resistive sensoric unit to vapors of ethanol and decrease response to heptane vapors. [on SciFinder(R)]