Sensor applications of carbon nanotubes
Name
64391218-MIT.pdf
Description
Full printable version
Size
3.53 MB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
bc751a8d4ee38d4f30d55d6be2725db4
Author(s)
Rushfeldt, Scott I
Advisor(s)
Carl V. Thompson.
Date Issued
2005
Publisher
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Abstract
A search of published research on sensing mechanisms of carbon nanotubes was performed to identify applications in which carbon nanotubes might improve on current sensor technologies, in either offering improved performance, reduced cost of manufacture, or both. Using this overview of carbon nanotube-based sensors, specific sensor technologies that could benefit from the use of newly developed techniques for producing aligned and ordered bundles of carbon nanotubes were selected. Reports of chemical/gas, biological, optical, mechanical, and a few other sensor applications of carbon nanotubes are reviewed. Only a few of these applications might benefit from aligned and ordered bundles of carbon nanotubes. Of these potential applications, only applications in semiconducting gas sensors, DNA sensors, and infrared sensors appear to have clearly defined market niches and are sufficiently technologically mature to allow a detailed assessment of commercial potential. It is argued that DNA and infrared sensors have good commercial potential with a medium amount of risks, while gas sensors have a smaller potential. Finally, DNA sensors are believed to derive the most value from aligned and ordered bundles of carbon nanotubes.
Description
Thesis (M. Eng.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, 2005.
Includes bibliographical references (leaves 47-49).
Subjects
Materials Science and Engineering.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Materials Science and Engineering
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