Ethanol sensor development using three-dimensional single-walled carbon nanotube network on silicon pillars

A novel ethanol sensor using three-dimensional single-walled carbon nanotube networks (3D-SWNTs) built on silicon pillars with the use of an alkaline solution electrolyte has been developed. A cyclic voltammetry was used to examine the electrochemical response of the sensor. The relationship between response currents and ethanol concentrations was found to be linear for the ethanol concentrations' range measured from 1 to 5%. The cyclic voltammetry tests showed the best sensitivity was 0.0024 mAmM
^-1
cm
^-2
with the 3D-SWNT electrode having no Pt particle loading. The Pt-free electrode gave better performance than platinum-coated 3D-SWNTs electrodes did. Since the 3D-SWNTs electrode without using Pt metal loading detects ethanol concentrations with high sensitivity and accuracy, it can lower the fabrication cost of the sensor for potential commercial application.