Monitoring water-immiscible organic liquid contaminations on water via stable sensing silicone rubber composites

Sensor technology is significant to monitor organic contaminations on water for the present industries. In this letter, highly sensitive carbon nanotube (CNT) based silicone rubber composites (CNTRs) are used as the candidate for sensing materials, which yet display unstable liquid sensing outputs owing to poor dispersion of CNTs. As hybrid carbon blacks (CBs) are added, CNT/CB composites are prepared to solve bad distribution of CNTs. CNT/CB composites achieve a better conductivity, larger sensing capacity and more stable sensing response on singular chemical liquids than CNTR. Importantly, growing resistance responsivities are discovered as CNT/CB composites circularly contact toluene and water. We therefore design the sensing application to monitor toluene suspensions on water.

Automated summary

Sensor technology plays a crucial role in monitoring organic contaminations in water for current industries. Highly sensitive carbon nanotube (CNT) based silicone rubber composites (CNTRs) were used as sensing materials, with the addition of hybrid carbon blacks (CBs) to prepare CNT/CB composites for better conductivity and stability. The composites showed improved sensing capacities and stable responses, especially when in contact with toluene and water, leading to the design of a sensing application for toluene suspensions on water.