Surface acoustic wave gas sensors based on polyisobutylene and carbon nanotube composites

Abstract Surface acoustic wave (SAW) gas sensors based on polyisobutylene (PIB) and composites (PIB and carbon nanotubes) as sensitive layers were investigated for the detection of octane and toluene (volatile organic compounds) and other atmospheric pollutants (H 2 , CO, NO 2 and NH 3 ) at room temperature. In order to study the effect of nanotubes in the response of SAW sensors, several composites based on PIB with different percentages of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were tested and compared to the response obtained from PIB SAW sensors. Sensors exhibit high responses and selectivity to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) with fast response and recovery times as well as good repeatability and reproducibility. Experimental results show as small percentages of nanotubes improve the response to octane.