Oligomer-coated carbon nanotube chemiresistive sensors for selective detection of nitroaromatic explosives

Yaqiong Zhang, Miao Xu, Benjamin R. Bunes, Na Wu, Dustin E. Gross, Jeffrey S. Moore, Ling Zang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

High-performance chemiresistive sensors were made using a porous thin film of single-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) coated with a carbazolylethynylene (Tg-Car) oligomer for trace vapor detection of nitroaromatic explosives. The sensors detect low concentrations of 4-nitrotoluene (NT), 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), and 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) vapors at ppb to ppt levels. The sensors also show high selectivity to NT from other common organic reagents at significantly higher vapor concentrations. Furthermore, by using Tg-Car/CNT sensors and uncoated CNT sensors in parallel, differential sensing of NT, TNT, and DNT vapors was achieved. This work provides a methodology to create selective CNT-based sensors and sensor arrays.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)7471-7475
Number of pages5
JournalACS Applied Materials and Interfaces
Volume7
Issue number14
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 15 2015

Keywords

  • carbazole oligomer
  • carbon nanotube
  • chemiresistive vapor sensor
  • differential sensing
  • nitroaromatic explosive
  • thin film

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Materials Science

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Oligomer-coated carbon nanotube chemiresistive sensors for selective detection of nitroaromatic explosives'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this