The application of carbon nanotube - polymer composite as gas sensing materials

Abstract

This is the first report on the evaluation on the performance of the gas sensing properties of carbon nanotube-polymer composite materials for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Single wall carbon nanotube-polymer (ethyl cellulose) (SWNT-EC) composite suspensions were prepared in chloroform with the help of poly(p-phenylenevinylene-co-2,5-dioctoxy-m-phenylenevinylene) (PmPV). The composite films were formed onto electrode substrates by spraying the suspensions. The gas sensing performance of the composite films well supports that these materials are suitable for VOC sensors. The dispersion quality of SWNT in the sol suspension is understood to be closely related to the sensing properties of the films. Enhancement in SWNT dispersion in the polymer matrix is expected to improve the sensing properties of the composite sensors.