Carbon-nanotube-based resonant-circuit sensor for ammonia

We present the design and development of highly sensitive and fast-responsive microwave resonant sensors for monitoring the presence of ammonia gas. The sensor consists of a circular disk electromagnetic resonant circuit coated with either single- or multiwalled carbon nanotubes that are highly sensitive to adsorbed gas molecules. Upon exposure to ammonia, the electrical resonant frequency of the sensor exhibits a dramatic downshift of 4.375 MHz. The recovery and response times of these sensors are nominally 10 min. This technology is suitable for designing remote sensor systems to monitor gases inside sealed opaque packages and environmental conditions that do not allow physical wire connections. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.