Chemiresistive sensors based on carbon nanotubes and transition metal complexes
A sensor can include a conductive region in electrical communication with at least two electrodes, the conductive region can include a mixture of a square-planar metal complex and a carbon nanotube.
1. A method of sensing an analyte comprising:
exposing a sensor to a sample, the sensor including:
a conductive region in electrical communication with at least two electrodes, the conductive region including a mixture of a square-planar metal complex and a carbon nanotube;
measuring an electrical property at the at least two electrodes; and
detecting formic acid.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the square-planar metal complex includes a nickel complex.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the square-planar metal complex includes a palladium complex.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the square-planar metal complex includes phenylenediamine.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube is non-covalently functionalized by the square-planar metal complex.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotube is a single-walled carbon nanotube.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detection is semi-reversible.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising detecting the analyte below 5 ppm.
9. A method of sensing an analyte comprising:
exposing a sensor to a sample, the sensor including:
a conductive region in electrical communication with at least two electrodes, the conductive region including a mixture of a square-planar metal complex and a carbon nanotube;
measuring an electrical property at the at least two electrodes; and
selectively detecting formic acid.
10. A method of preparing a sensor comprising:
forming a complex including a conductive region in electrical communication with at least two electrodes, the conductive region including a mixture of a square-planar metal complex and a carbon nanotube; and
placing the conductive material in electrical communication with the at least two electrodes
measuring an electrical property at the at least two electrodes; and
selectively detecting formic acid.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the square-planar metal complex includes two or more selectors.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the two or more selectors leverage their chelating N—H moieties to facilitate protonation or p-doping of a CNT chemiresistor network by formic acid vapors.