Multi-walled carbon nanotubes covalently bonded cellulose composite for chemical vapor sensor

Abstract

A cellulose solution was prepared by dissolving cotton pulp in LiCl/ N,N-Dimethylacetamide (DMAc) solution, and functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were reacted with N, N-Carbonyldiimidazoles to obtain MWCNTs-imidazolides. By acylation of cellulose with MWCNTs-imidazolides, MWCNTs were covalently bonded with cellulose chains. Using the product, MWCNTs covalently bonded cellulose composite (M/C) composite was fabricated with mechanical stretching to align MWCNTs with cellulose. Finally, inter-digital comb electrode was formed on the composite via lift-off process. Chemo-electrical properties of the M/C composite in response of absorption of the volatile vapors corresponding to 1-propanol, 1-butanol, methanol and ethanol were investigated. Due to sensitive and reversible expansion/contraction of the M/C composite matrix in response to absorption of each analyte, the M/C composite showed fast and reversible change in chemo-electrical property. The ranking of relative resistance response of the composite was methanol < ethanol < 1-propanol < 1-butanol.