| Nov 13, 2012 |
Carbon nanotubes increase sensitivity of nanosensors
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(Nanowerk News) Researchers at University of Tehran succeeded in increasing the sensitivity of tin dioxide nanosensor up to less than 0.3 ppm by synthesizing multi-walled carbon nanotube/tin dioxide nanocomposite (see paper in Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical: "Highly sensitive and selective sensors to volatile organic compounds using MWCNTs/SnO2").
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In this research, multi-walled carbon nanotubes were used in order to improve the properties of semiconductor sensors of volatile organic compounds.
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“In this research, nanocomposites consisted of functionalized carbon nanotubes and tin dioxide nanoparticles were synthesized through sonochemical and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) methods,” Sadeq Ahmadnia Feyzabad, one of the researchers of the plan, explained.
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The production of nanoparticles with diameter less than 6 nm is one of the advantages of the chemical deposition method used in this research. It causes the nanosensor made of such nanoparticles to have a very high sensitivity. Recent studies show that the reduction in the diameter of SnO2 nanoparticles to less than 6 nm significantly increases the sensitivity of the sensor made of these particles.
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“One of the most important applications of these nanosensors is in medical fields. Normal or common or uncommon physiological processes in human’s body can emit gases in expiration. Therefore, the combination of expiration changes. Internal illnesses are usually diagnosed by carrying out various tests such as blood test or through biopsy from the desired tissue. In addition to being time-consuming and its side effects, the diagnosis can be observed after the progress of the illness in the body," Ahmadnia Feyzabad said.
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"However, respiration analysis can help the diagnosis of the illness more quickly and when the number of the damaged cells is little. Lung cancer, breast cancer, and diabetes are among the illnesses that can be diagnosed through respiration analysis.”
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