Annealed metal nano-particle decorated nanotubes
Disclosed are methods and systems of providing carbon nanotubes decorated with polymer coated metal nanoparticles. Then, annealing the metal coated carbon nanotubes to reduce a quantity of hydrophilic components of the polymer coating.
1. A composition of matter comprising:
a first set of carbon nanotubes decorated with polymer-coated metal nanoparticles produced based on a mixture of a carbon nanotube dispersion and a polymer coated metal nanoparticle dispersion, wherein the polymer coating attaches the metal nanoparticles to the carbon nanotubes and reduces adsorption of water vapor by the metal nanoparticles;
a first amount of oxygenated functional groups achieved based on an annealing process with a temperature above 300 degrees Celsius, wherein the first amount is within twenty percent of a weight of the composition of matter; and
a first water contact angle achieved based on the annealing process, wherein the first water contact angle is higher than eighty two degrees.
2. The composition of matter of claim 1 , wherein the metal nanoparticles comprise a metal selected from a group consisting of palladium, iridium, rhodium, platinum, copper, nickel, chromium, ruthenium, silver and gold.
3. The composition of matter of claim 2 , wherein the metal nanoparticles are produced by using a mixture of two or more salts of two or more metal ion salts, wherein ions in the two or more metal ion salts are in a group comprising palladium, iridium, rhodium, platinum, copper, nickel, chromium, ruthenium, silver and gold ions.
4. The composition of matter of claim 1 , wherein the carbon nanotubes comprise single-walled carbon nanotubes.
5. The composition of matter of claim 1 , wherein the polymer coated metal nanoparticles comprises a polymer layer.
6. The composition of matter of claim 5 , wherein the polymer layer comprises polyvinylpyrrolidone, and wherein the metal nanoparticles comprise palladium or platinum.
7. The composition of matter of claim 1 , wherein the composition of matter is hydrophobic.
8. The composition of matter of claim 1 , wherein the annealing process is performed at above 350° C.
9. The composition of matter of claim 1 , wherein a residual polymer content of the composition of matter achieved based on the annealing process is less than 50%.
10. The composition of matter of claim 1 , wherein the annealing process is performed in a vacuum or inert gas environment.
11. A sensor for detecting gas, the sensor comprising:
an electrode assembly comprising electrodes; and
a gas-adsorbing material disposed between the electrodes of the electrode assembly, wherein the sensor is associated with a detection limit achieved based on an annealing process with a temperature above 300 degrees Celsius; and
wherein the gas-adsorbing material comprises:
a first set of carbon nanotubes decorated with polymer-coated metal nanoparticles produced based on a mixture of a carbon nanotube dispersion and a polymer coated metal nanoparticle dispersion, wherein the polymer coating attaches the metal nanoparticles to the carbon nanotubes and reduces adsorption of water vapor by the metal nanoparticles;
a first amount of oxygenated functional groups achieved based on the annealing process, wherein the first amount is within twenty percent of a weight of the composition of matter; and
a first water contact angle achieved based on the annealing process, wherein the first water contact angle is higher than eighty two degrees.
12. The sensor of claim 11 , wherein the metal nanoparticles comprise a metal selected from a group consisting of palladium, iridium, rhodium, platinum, copper, nickel, chromium, ruthenium, silver and gold.
13. The sensor of claim 12 , wherein the metal nanoparticles are produced by using a mixture of two or more salts of two or more metal ion salts, wherein ions in the two or more metal ion salts are in a group comprising palladium, iridium, rhodium, platinum, copper, nickel, chromium, ruthenium, silver and gold ions.
14. The sensor of claim 11 , wherein the carbon nanotubes comprise single-walled carbon nanotubes.
15. The sensor of claim 11 , wherein the polymer coated metal nanoparticles comprises a polymer layer.
16. The sensor of claim 15 , wherein the polymer layer comprises polyvinylpyrrolidone, and wherein the metal nanoparticles comprise palladium or platinum.
17. The sensor of claim 11 , wherein the composition of matter is hydrophobic.
18. The sensor of claim 11 , wherein the annealing process is performed at above 350° C.
19. The sensor of claim 11 , wherein a residual polymer content of the composition of matter achieved based on the annealing process is less than 50%.
20. The sensor of claim 11 , wherein the annealing process is performed in a vacuum or inert gas environment.