Carbon Nanotube-Based Chemical Sensors

• Published in: Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) Germany), 2016-04, Vol.12 (16), p.2118-2129
• Main Author: Meyyappan, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arrays; Carbon nanotubes; chemical sensors; chemiresistors; Chemistry - methods; Chemistry Techniques, Analytical; Construction; Construction industry; Detection; Electric Conductivity; Electrodes; Electronic noses; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Equipment Design; gas sensing; Gases; Materials Testing; Nanomaterials; Nanostructures; Nanotechnology; Nanotechnology - methods; Nanotubes; Nanotubes, Carbon - chemistry; Principal Component Analysis; Sensors; vapor sensing
• ISSN: 1613-6810; 1613-6829
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.201502555

The need to sense gases and vapors arises in numerous scenarios in industrial, environmental, security and medical applications. Traditionally, this activity has utilized bulky instruments to obtain both qualitative and quantitative information on the constituents of the gas mixture. It is ideal to use sensors for this purpose since they are smaller in size and less expensive; however, their performance in the field must match that of established analytical instruments in order to gain acceptance. In this regard, nanomaterials as sensing media offer advantages in sensitivity, preparation of chip‐based sensors and construction of electronic nose for selective detection of analytes of interest. This article provides a review of the use of carbon nanotubes in gas and vapor sensing. Gas and vapor sensing is important in environmental monitoring, industrial safety, and biomedical diagnostics. Nanomaterials are ideal for developing small, inexpensive and sensitive detectors. A multisensor array chip is used to construct an electronic nose for selective identification of gases and vapors. The use of carbon nanotubes as sensor materials is reviewed, and unaddressed issues and challenges are identified.