Vibrational and Resistance Responses for Ether-Amine Solutions of the Buckypaper-Based Chemiresistor Sensor

TL;DR

This paper presents a chemiresistor sensor using buckypaper to detect ether-amine solutions, showing potential for real-time chemical detection.

Contribution

A novel buckypaper-based chemiresistor sensor is developed for detecting ether-amine concentrations with real-time response capabilities.

Findings

The sensor differentiates deionized water from ether-amine solutions.

It detects various ether-amine concentrations with a response time of 3.62 ± 0.99 min for 5% EA.

The recovery time for 10% EA is 21.16 ± 2.35 min, indicating real-time sensing potential.

Abstract

The development of miniaturized sensors has become relevant for the detection of chemical/biological substances, since they use and detect low concentrations, such as flocculants based on amines for the mining industry. In this study, buckypaper (BP) films based on carboxylic acid functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNTs) were produced through vacuum filtration on cellulose filter paper to carry out sensory function in samples containing ether-amine (volumes: 1%, 5%, 10% and 100%). The morphological characterization of the BPs by scanning electron microscopy showed f-MWCNT aggregates randomly distributed on the cellulose fibers. Vibrational analysis by Raman spectroscopy indicated bands and sub-bands referring to f-MWCNTs and vibrational modes corresponding to chemical bonds present in the ether-amine (EA). The electrical responses of the BP to the variation in analyte concentration showed that the sensor differentiates deionized water from ether-amine, as well as the various concentrations present in the different analytes, exhibiting response time of 3.62 ± 0.99 min for the analyte containing 5 vol.% EA and recovery time of 21.16 ± 2.35 min for the analyte containing 10 vol.% EA, revealing its potential as a real-time response chemiresistive sensor.

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