A Sensor Array for the Detection and Discrimination of Methane and Other Environmental Pollutant Gases.

We address the sensitive detection and discrimination of gases impacting the environment, such as CH4, NH3, SO2, and CO, using a sensor array and aided by principal component analysis (PCA). A 32-element chemiresistive sensor array consisting of nine different sensor materials including seven types of modified single-walled carbon nanotubes and two types of polymers has been constructed. PCA results demonstrate excellent discriminating ability of the chemiresistor sensor chip in the 1-30 ppm concentration range. The accuracy of the sensor was verified against data collected using cavity ring down spectroscopy. The sensor chip has also been integrated with a smartphone and has been shown to reproduce the sensing performance obtained with the laboratory measurement system.

Carbon nanotube coated paper sensor for damage diagnosis.

A carbon nanotube coated paper sensor has been developed for the detection of damages in structural components. Electrical resistance tomography is used to measure changes in electrical potential at various locations induced by applying a small electrical current to the sample. The spatial locations and magnitudes of multiple damages are predicted accurately with a sensitivity of 73 ppm in sensing area. The detection limit of the sensor is estimated to be 29 ppm in sensing area, which is at least 30 times better in sensitivity than previous results (0.1-0.65%) in the literature.

Trace detection of hydrogen peroxide vapor using a carbon-nanotube-based chemical sensor.

The sensitive detection of hydrogen peroxide in the vapor phase is achieved using a nanochemical sensor consisting of single-walled carbon nanotubes as the sensing material. The interdigitated electrode-based sensor is constructed using a simple and standard microfabrication approach. The test results indicate a sensing capability of 25 ppm and response and recovery times in seconds. The sensor array consisting of 32 sensor elements with variations in sensing materials is capable of discriminating hydrogen peroxide from water and methanol.

A carbon-nanotube-based sensor array for formaldehyde detection.

We have fabricated a sensor array consisting of 32 sensor elements with pristine, doped and metal-loaded single-wall carbon nanotubes as sensing materials. The sensor elements consist of interdigitated electrodes with varying finger widths and gaps. The chemiresistor-type sensors provide a significant response to formaldehyde at concentrations down to 10 ppb in air with rapid response and recovery times.

High-sensitivity NO2 detection with carbon nanotube-gold nanoparticle composite films.

Composite films of single-walled carbon nanotube mesh doped with alkanethiol monolayer protected gold clusters (MPCs) have been investigated for ultrahigh sensitivity detection of nitrogen dioxide. The response to NO2 (measured as increased conductance) of the composite materials increased with MPC loading until a threshold MPC loading level was achieved, after which no further enhancement of sensor response is observed. The total of about ten droplets of MPC solution had been cast atop the SWNT mesh. The detection limit for NO2 has been improved 9.6-fold, to 4.6 ppb, compared with that obtained with pure SWNT sensors. Ultraviolet illumination helps to speed up the sensor recovery. All tests were done under ambient conditions.