Improved selectivity of oxidized multiwall carbon nanotube network for detection of ethanol vapor

Abstract

Two kinds of Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) networks "Buckypaper" were made by the vacuum filtration method of MWCNT aqueous suspension. The first one was prepared from pure CNT and the second from its oxidized form by acidic KMnO4 as oxidizing agent. The CNT oxidation increase content of oxygen bonded to the surface of CNT decreasing their hydrophobic character. The sensitivity of MWCNT networks to two kind of organic solvent vapors (ethanol and hepane) has been investigated by resistance measurements. The solvents had different polarities given by Hansen solubility parameters and nearly the same volume fractions of saturated vapors at the condition of experiment. CNT oxidation significantly increases the sensitivity of CNT resistive sensor to vapors of ethanol and decrease response to heptane vapors. The present paper demonstrates the effective way how to add proper selectivity for organic vapor detection.