Chemical sensors based on nanostructured materials

This article provides a comprehensive review of current research activities that concentrate on chemical sensors based on nanotubes, nanorods, nanobelts, and nanowires. We devote the most attention on the experimental principle, design of sensing devices, sensing mechanism, and some important conclusions. We elaborate on development of chemical sensors based on nanostructured materials in the following four sections: (1) nanotube sensors; (2) nanorod sensors; (3) nanobelt sensors; (4) nanowire sensors. We conclude this review with personal perspectives on the directions towards which future research on nanostructured sensors might be directed. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.