Detection of a nerve agent simulant using single-walled carbon nanotube networks: dimethyl-methyl-phosphonate

Nanotechnology. 2010 Dec 10;21(49):495501. doi: 10.1088/0957-4484/21/49/495501. Epub 2010 Nov 16.

Abstract

Single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) networks were used to detect hazardous dimethyl-methyl-phosphonate (DMMP) gas in real time, employing two different metals as electrodes. Random networks of SWNTs were simply obtained by drop-casting a SWNT-containing solution onto a surface-oxidized Si substrate. Although the electrical responses to DMMP at room temperature were reversible for both metals, the Pd-contacting SWNT network sensors exhibited a higher response and a shorter response time than those of the Au-contacting SWNT network sensors at the same DMMP concentration, due to the stronger interactions between the SWNTs and Pd surface atoms. In Pd-contacting SWNT network sensors, the response increased linearly with increasing DMMP concentration and reproducible response curves were obtained for DMMP levels as low as 1 ppm. These results indicate that SWNT networks in contact with Pd electrodes can function as good DMMP sensors at room temperature with scalable and fast response and excellent recovery.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chemical Warfare Agents / analysis*
  • Electric Impedance
  • Electrodes
  • Gold / chemistry
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / chemistry*
  • Nanotubes, Carbon / ultrastructure
  • Organophosphonates / analysis*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Palladium / chemistry
  • Phosphites / analysis*
  • Spectrum Analysis, Raman
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Chemical Warfare Agents
  • Nanotubes, Carbon
  • Organophosphonates
  • Phosphites
  • Palladium
  • Gold
  • dimethyl hydrogen phosphite