Sensors for inorganic vapor detection based on carbon nanotubes and poly(o-anisidine) nanocomposite material

A gas sensor, fabricated by selective growth of aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by pulsed plasma on Si3N4/Si substrates patterned by metallic platinum, is presented for inorganic vapor detection at room temperature. Poly(o-anisidine) (POAS) deposition onto the CNTs device was shown to impart higher sensitivity to the sensor. Upon exposure to HCl the variation of the CNTs sensitivity is less than 4%, while the POAS-coated CNTs devices offer a higher sensitivity (i.e. 28%). The extended detection capability to inorganic vapors is attributed to direct charge transfer with electron hopping effects on intertube conductivity through physically adsorbed POAS between CNTs. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.