Carbon Nanotube-Based Sensors for Detection of Gas Atoms

Abstract

The potential of single-walled carbon nanotubes as nanosensors in detection of noble gases via a vibration analysis is investigated using molecular dynamics simulations. An index based on frequency shifts of the nanotubes in an environment of noble gas atoms is defined and examined to measure the sensitivity of the sensors. The effects of density of gas atoms on the tube sensors, the diameter and length of the tubes, and the type of restrained boundary of the tubes on the sensitivity are studied. The simulation results indicate that the resolution of a sensor made of a (8, 8) carbon nanotube with a length of 4.92 nm can achieve an order of 10−6 fg and the sensitivity can be enhanced by nanotubes with smaller sizes and stiffer boundary conditions.