Characterization of Carbon Nanotubes

**89**

**Chapter 6**

**Abstract**

chemiresistor

**1. Introduction**

Pollutant

*and Mahendra D. Shirsat*

Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes

Ever since carbon nanotubes were discovered, it has attracted researchers from all corners due to the fascinating characteristics they offer. Detection of environmental pollutants is one of the prominent sectors where carbon nanotubes have been extensively applied. Pristine carbon nanotubes attracted sincere attention at the initial phase; however, the inherent shortcomings as a chemical sensor were immediately recognized. Thereafter, improvement of selective and sensitive behavior of carbon nanotubes toward varied class of analytes has remained a core area of carbon nanotube-based research. Tailoring/covering sidewalls of carbon nanotubes with different functionalizing entities has shown remarkable outcomes in improving behavior of nanotube sensors in various domains. Organic conducting polymers, macrocyclic compounds, metal organic frameworks, metal nanoparticles, etc. have been extensively reported to functionalize carbon nanotube surface. This chapter discusses porphyrin-functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes that are found to be selective toward volatile organic compounds, and most importantly, good selectivity and sensitivity have been observed for selected group of analytes.

**Keywords:** carbon nanotubes, porphyrin, volatile organic compounds, sensor,

Environment encompasses all living and non-living things coexisting with invisible strings at balance. "Pollution" is a major component that disturbs this balance and a serious threat to environmental ecosystem. Human practices exercising untowardly comfort are adding up to the existing lot of "pollutants," and this is causing adverse effects on all living creatures. Some of the dominating pollutants that are human activity generated include oxides of sulfur and nitrogen, mono- and di-oxides of carbon, particulate matter, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Out of the major air pollutants, VOCs cover a large area of chemical species that are present in nature. This class of pollutants is ubiquitous in nature and also copious in amount. Most of the VOCs are colorless, having a sweet smell. Although this odor is pleasant, inhalation of the same is very harmful to health. Even at room

for Detection of Volatile Organic

*Arti Dinkarrao Rushi, Kunal Prasanta Datta,* 

*Prasanta Sudarshan Ghosh, Ashok Mulchandani* 

## **Chapter 6**
