A simple theoretical approach to designing nanotube-based sensors

作者：Rocha C G; Ferreira M S^*

来源：Physica Status Solidi B-Basic Solid State Physics, 2011, 248(3): 686-693.

DOI：10.1002/pssb.201046015

• carbon nanotubes
• sensors
• Green functions

Nanotube-based sensors are high-sensitivity devices that can probe a number of nano-sized impurities through doping-induced variations in their conductivity. One key question for designing efficient sensors is to establish which impurity/nanotube combination will generate maximum sensitivity. Standard ways for selecting a good nanotube/impurity combination consists of an ad hoc approach that involves sifting through an immense universe of possibilities. This trial- and error approach, despite being time-consuming and computationally demanding, does not necessarily result in sensitivity optimization. A mathematically transparent theoretical formalism was adopted to introduce an inverse way of thinking about the nanotube/impurity combination by establishing a set of characteristics these components must have to generate high sensitivity devices. In this way guidelines were generated that can narrow the search for the ideal components of nanotube-based sensors. We illustrate this method with a few examples of nanotubes doped with a different single-atom impurities.

• 出版日期2011-3