Graphitic carbon nanofiber-poly(acrylate) polymer brushes as gas sensors

Carbon nanofiber/interdigitated array circuits fabricated with as-prepared herringbone graphitic carbon nanofibers [GCNF], GCNFs surface-derivatized with 3,4′-oxydianiline functional groups [GCNF–ODA], and GCNF–poly(butyl acrylate) [GCNF–PBA] or GCNF–poly(acrylic acid) [GCNF–PAA] polymer brushes are evaluated as solid-state gas-sensing materials unsupported by a polymer matrix. Vapor detection is observed as an increase in circuit electrical resistance. Analyte maximum response values exhibit chemoselectivity among different types of GCNF sensors and range over five orders of magnitude in parallel with expected trends in vapor/GCNF van der Waals interaction.