Carbon nanotube resonator sensors for remote sensing systems

Abstract

The paper presents our on-going research on the development of carbon nanotube resonator sensors for chemical and, potentially, biological applications. The sensor transducer mechanism is based on changes of resonant frequency of an electromagnetic resonator coated with carbon nanotubes. We have developed carbon nanotube resonator sensor prototypes and found that the sensor is sensitive to both polar (NH/sub 3/) and non-polar gases (He, Ar, N/sub 2/, and O/sub 2/). In addition, we have recently demonstrated that the carbon nanotube resonator sensor is sensitive to organic solvents. This finding suggests that the carbon nanotube resonator sensors can be used to develop biosensors. The carbon nanotube resonator sensor platform has the potential to be incorporated in a wireless remote sensing system.