Room temperature ethanol sensing by green synthesized silver nanoparticle decorated SWCNT

• Published in: Materials research express 2019-03, Vol.6 (6), p.65602
• Main Authors: Banihashemian, Seyedeh Maryam, Hajghassem, Hassan, Nikfarjam, Alireza, Azizi Jarmoshti, Javad, Abdul Rahman, Saadah, Boon Tong, Goh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: ethanol sensor; green synthesized silver nanoparticle; room temperature; single wall carbon nanotube
• ISSN: 2053-1591; 2053-1591
• DOI: 10.1088/2053-1591/ab07de

In this research, we report a new ethanol sensor based on green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and their decoration on single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) using reduction process. A single wall carbon nanotube was treated by chemical process using H2SO4/HNO3 (3/2). AgNPs prepared directly with mixing sol-gel nano-component with treated carbon nanotube using ultrasonic/sol gel method. The AgNP/SWCNT was characterized by Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The sizes of the silver nanoparticles decorated on SWC NTs ranged from 10 to 15 nm. The AgNP/SWCNT nano composite was used as a sensing layer between the Gold electrodes in the vertically gold-insulator (SiO2)- gold structure (100 nm 500 nm−1 100 nm−1). The sensor measured using a semi-automatic gas set up. The AgNP/SWCNT reflects a reasonable sensing for ethanol gas in the ambient temperature. The results revealed that the AgNP/SWCNT sensor has a Response value in the order of 7.1-45.3 at room temperature for 1-200 ppm (8-116 s response time and 7-38 s recovery time) respectively with a limit of detection (LOD) of 2 ppb with a full recovery response.