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Abdulhameed A, Halim MM, Halin IA. Dielectrophoretic alignment of carbon nanotubes: theory, applications, and future. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 34:242001. [PMID: 36921341 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/acc46c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are nominated to be the successor of several semiconductors and metals due to their unique physical and chemical properties. It has been concerning that the anisotropic and low controllability of CNTs impedes their adoption in commercial applications. Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is known as the electrokinetics motion of polarizable nanoparticles under the influence of nonuniform electric fields. The uniqueness of this phenomenon allows DEP to be employed as a novel method to align, assemble, separate, and manipulate CNTs suspended in liquid mediums. This article begins with a brief overview of CNT structure and production, with the emphasize on their electrical properties and response to electric fields. The DEP phenomenon as a CNT alignment method is demonstrated and graphically discussed, along with its theory, procedure, and parameters. We also discussed the side forces that arise in DEP systems and how they negatively or positively affect the CNT alignment. The article concludes with a brief review of CNT-based devices fabricated using DEP, as well as the method's limitations and future prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohd Mahadi Halim
- School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800 USM Penang, Malaysia
| | - Izhal Abdul Halin
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Malaysia
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Abdulhameed A, Halin IA, Mohtar MN, Hamidon MN. Airflow-assisted dielectrophoresis to reduce the resistance mismatch in carbon nanotube-based temperature sensors. RSC Adv 2021; 11:39311-39318. [PMID: 35492445 PMCID: PMC9044456 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra08250g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Airflow-assisted dielectrophoresis (AA-DEP) is a novel dielectrophoresis (DEP) setup used to fabricate sensor devices with minimum resistance variation by assembling and aligning carbon nanotubes (CNTs) across electrode structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdullah Abdulhameed
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Hadhramout University, Mukalla, Yemen
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Malaysia
| | - Izhal Abdul Halin
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Nazim Mohtar
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Malaysia
- Institute of Advanced Technology (ITMA), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Malaysia
| | - Mohd Nizar Hamidon
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Malaysia
- Institute of Advanced Technology (ITMA), Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, 43400, Malaysia
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Yu Y, Peng S, Blanloeuil P, Wu S, Wang CH. Wearable Temperature Sensors with Enhanced Sensitivity by Engineering Microcrack Morphology in PEDOT:PSS-PDMS Sensors. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:36578-36588. [PMID: 32667193 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c07649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Wearable temperature sensors with high sensitivity, linearity, and flexibility are required to meet the increasing demands for unobtrusive monitoring of temperature changes indicative of the onset of infections and diseases. Herein, we present a new method for engineering highly sensitive and flexible temperature sensors made by sandwiching a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene (PEDOT:PSS) sensing film between two poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) substrates. Pre-stretching the sensor to a certain strain can create stable microcracks in the sensing layer that bestow high senstivity and linearity. The average length and density of the microcracks, which dictate the sensor's temperature sensitivity, can be engineered by controlling three key processing parameters, incuding (a) pre-stretching strain, (b) sulfuric acid treatment time, and (c) surface roughness of the substrate. For a given acid treatment time and surface roughness condition, the density and average length of the microcracks increase pre-stretching strain. A smooth PDMS substrate tends to yield long and straight cracks in the PEDOT:PSS film, compared to shorter microcracks with higher density on rough surfaces. Crack density can be further increased via sulfuric acid treatment with an optimum duration of approximately 3 h. Prolonged treatment would result in weak adhesion between the PEDOT:PSS film and the PDMS substrate, which in turn reduces the microcrack density but increases the crack length. By optimizing the three design parameters we have designed a high performance PEDOT:PSS-PDMS sensor that provides a combined high temperature sensitivity of 0.042 °C-1 with an excellent linearity of 0.998 (from 30 to 55 °C), better than the highest temperature sensitivity of PEDOT:PSS based sensors reported in the literature. With a good optical transparency, high temperature sensitivity, excellent linearity, and high flexibility, this microcrack-based sensor is a very promising wearable temperature-sensing solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyan Yu
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Shuhua Peng
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Philippe Blanloeuil
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Shuying Wu
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
- School of Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Chun H Wang
- School of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
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Carbon Nanotubes and Carbon Nanotube Structures Used for Temperature Measurement. SENSORS 2019; 19:s19112464. [PMID: 31146463 PMCID: PMC6603720 DOI: 10.3390/s19112464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Accurate measurement of temperatures with low power consumption with the highest sensitivity and smallest possible elements is still a challenge. The thermal, electrical, and mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have suggested that their use as a very sensitive sensing element will allow the creation of different sensors, far superior to other devices of similar size. In this paper, we present a short review of different constructive designs of CNTs based resistive sensors used for temperature measurement, available in literature, assembled using different processes, such as self-assembly, drop-casting from a solution, thin films obtained by gluing, printing, spraying, or filtration over a special membrane. As particular cases, temperature sensors obtained from CNT-polymer nanocomposite structures, CNTs filled with uniformly dispersed Fe3O4 nanoparticles or with gallium, and carbon nanotube wires (CNWs) hybrids are presented. Using these preparation procedures, mixtures of CNTs with different dimensions and chirality, as well as with a variable level of impurities and structural defects, can be produced. The sensors’ performance charts are presented, highlighting a number of aspects regarding the applicability of CNT structures for temperature measurement ranging from cryogenic temperatures to high temperatures, the limitations they have, their characteristics and advantages, as well as the special situations that may arise given the particular structure of these new types of materials, together with basic relationships and parameters for CNTs characterization. Further research will be required to develop the techniques of manipulating and depositing individual CNTs on supports and electrodes for the development of temperature sensors.
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Wang D, Xiong W, Zhou Z, Zhu R, Yang X, Li W, Jiang Y, Zhang Y. Highly Sensitive Hot-Wire Anemometry Based on Macro-Sized Double-Walled Carbon Nanotube Strands. SENSORS 2017; 17:s17081756. [PMID: 28762998 PMCID: PMC5580035 DOI: 10.3390/s17081756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Revised: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This paper presents a highly sensitive flow-rate sensor with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as sensing elements. The sensor uses micro-size centimeters long double-walled CNT (DWCNT) strands as hot-wires to sense fluid velocity. In the theoretical analysis, the sensitivity of the sensor is demonstrated to be positively related to the ratio of its surface. We assemble the flow sensor by suspending the DWCNT strand directly on two tungsten prongs and dripping a small amount of silver glue onto each contact between the DWCNT and the prongs. The DWCNT exhibits a positive TCR of 1980 ppm/K. The self-heating effect on the DWCNT was observed while constant current was applied between the two prongs. This sensor can evidently respond to flow rate, and requires only several milliwatts to operate. We have, thus far, demonstrated that the CNT-based flow sensor has better sensitivity than the Pt-coated DWCNT sensor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dingqu Wang
- Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Nuclear Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Reactor Engineering and Safety, Ministry of Education of China, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Wei Xiong
- Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Zhaoying Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instrument, Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Rong Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instrument, Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Xing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instrument, Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Weihua Li
- Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Yueyuan Jiang
- Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Yajun Zhang
- Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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Hu S, Zhao Y, Lv J, Si G. Numerical model of carbon nanotubes based on lateral-field optoelectronic tweezers. MOLECULAR SIMULATION 2017. [DOI: 10.1080/08927022.2017.1282613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sheng Hu
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, P.R. China
| | - Yong Zhao
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, P.R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Synthetical Automation for Process Industries, Shenyang, P.R. China
| | - Jiangtao Lv
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, P.R. China
| | - Guangyuan Si
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, P.R. China
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