Participants/Project Abstracts
Summer 2007 Bioanalytical Science REU Participants
TIN OXIDE DECORATED SINGLE-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES FOR CH4 GAS SENSING
Michael W. Collins, Nichola Kinsinger, Syed Mubeen, Marc A. Deshusses, and Nosang V. Myung
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California-Riverside, CA 92521 and Colby College, Waterville, ME 04901
Abstract
Nanostructures
have been considered for sensor materials due to their unique electrical and
physical properties and high aspect ratio, providing users with high
sensitivity and massive redundancy in a handheld format. Single-walled carbon
nanotubes (SWNTs) have been studied for this application because they form
surface-only structures while maintaining a robust physical structure. However,
their use has been limited by generally low absorption of most target analytes,
mostly volatile organic compounds such as CH4.The functionalization
of SWNTs with metal or metal oxide by electrodeposition could solve this
problem. The target gas would bind to the metal or metal oxide, cause a charge
depletion or charge accumulation zone, and change the nanotube resistance
measurably. This study investigates the optimum preparation of the SWNT and tin
oxide components of the hybrid gas sensor.
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