Selective sensing of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene and triacetone triperoxide using carbon/boron nitride heteronanotubes

Abstract The detection of reactive compounds represents a significant challenge. Here we demonstrate that heteronanotubes formed by covalently bonded carbon (CNT) and boron nitride (BN) nanotubes can be used to selectively sense trinitrotoluene (TNT) and triacetone triperoxide (TATP). We show that the energy band gap can be created and tuned in carbon/boron nitride (C/BN) heteronanotubes. Once TNT or TATP is physisorbed on C/BN heteronanotubes, new resonances are formed within the energy gap of heteronanotubes. Crucially, transport resonances associated with TNT are formed above the Fermi level and are due to nitro group whereas TATP resonances happen to be below the Fermi level. Consequently, a negative Seebeck coefficient is expected for C/BN heteronanotubes devices in the presence of TNT in contrast to a positive Seebeck coefficient in the presence of TATP. This can be used for selective sensing of these species.