DEP-based fabrication and characterization of electronic-grade CNTs for nano-sensing applications

Sensing devices using electronic-grade carbon nanotubes (EG-CNTs) as resistive sensing element were fabricated by dielectrophoresis (DEP) manipulation. DEP-based fabrication of EG-CNTs is important as it allows some control of the nominal resistance of the fabricated sensors, which is essential to improve the SNR of CNT sensors. The devices were characterized and the potential of EG-CNTs to serve as a novel temperature and humidity sensing element has been demonstrated. Electrical characterization revealed that the EG-CNTs sensors, which exhibit large linear I-V range, have both positive and negative TCR at higher operational temperatures. In addition, its resistance-humidity linear dependency proves its humidity sensing capability. Moreover, the EG-CNTs device is capable of operating in nW range. On the foundation of these measurements, we aim to prove EG-CNTs as a promising material for future applications in nano-sensing.