Functionalization Of Carbon Nanotubes With Metal Phthalocyanine For SELECTIVE Gas Sensing Application

Abstract

Composites of hydroxylated single-walled carbon nanotubes and copper phthalocyanine (CuPc) has been obtained. Phthalocyanines get noncovalently adsorbed onto CNTs surface by π–π stacking. Conversion of β-form of phthalocyanine to α-form gives clear evidence of composite formation. Only carboxyl and hydroxyl CNTs react with phthalocyanine while no reaction occurs for amided CNTs. High selectivity in the thin film resistors of SWNT–OH + CuPc composites toward NOx gases is observed. The response for NOx is 10 times and 100 times more then that of ammonia and Sox, respectively. This makes the SWNT–OH + CuPc composite a candidate for detection of NOx—a common pollutant.