Synthesis and gas sensing characteristic based on metal oxide modification multi wall carbon nanotube composites

A new type of gas sensing material based on metal oxide modification multi wall carbon nanotube (MO/MWCNT) composites is presented since the interface between the composites enhance the carrier density so as to improve the gas sensitivity. Three kinds of MO/MWCNT composite materials, such as ZnO/MWCNT, SnO₂/MWCNT and TiO₂/MWCNT, have been acquired in situ growth using catalytic pyrolysis method. The MO nano particles have decorated on side of MWCNTs, whereas the introduction of SnO₂ nano particles makes part of MWCNT showing two-dimensional form of carbon nano-wall structure. Among four kinds of cathode of ZnO/MWCNTs, SnO₂/MWCNTs, TiO₂/MWCNTs and pure MWCNT composite film, TiO₂/MWCNTs composite has the lowest threshold electric field required to draw current of 12 μA has been found to be ∼1.2 V/μm, and also TiO₂/MWCNTs composite has the highest sensitivity of 16% to ethanol. The TiO₂/MWCNTs composite is superior to the others both in vacuum electron transportation and gas sensitivity.