Single-walled carbon nanotubes as a chemical sensor for SO2 detection

Abstract

Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are introduced as a chemical sensor for the detection of sulfur dioxide (SO2) molecules. For a single bundle of SWNTs, current-voltage (I-V) curves were measured for a series of different temperatures under adsorption Of SO2 molecules. The I-V characteristics for a "MAT"-type thin film SWNTs, with respect to the amount Of SO2 adsorbed, were measured at room temperature and compared directly with O-2 adsorption. The change in current upon the adsorption Of SO2 is distinctly higher than that of O-2, and is also reversible for adsorption and successive evacuation. Thus, the results strongly suggested that a thin film of SWNTs can be used as a chemical sensor in the nanometer scale devices.