In this work, carbon nanomaterials have been prepared by CVD technology onto alumina substrates, coated by nanosized Co-catalyst at different thickness (2.5 nm and 7.5 nm) and used for a simple gas sensor device. The surface has been functionalized with sputtered Pt-nanocluster at a tuned loading of 8, 15 and 30 nm. The response of the chemiresistors in terms of p-type electrical conductance has been investigated as a function of the thickness of the Pt-nanoclusters towards different gases (NO 2, NH 3, CO, CH 4, CO 2). Furthermore, the effect of the temperature ranging from 20°C to 250°C on the sensor response has been addressed as well. Additionally, a short-term stability of the carbon nanomaterials based sensor towards NO 2 gas detection has been investigated for a 2-month period. The gas sensors based on Pt-modified carbon nanomaterials exhibit higher sensitivity compared to unmodified material, fast response, reversibility, repeatability, moderate drift of the baseline signal, sub-ppm range detection limit. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

cited By 0; Conference of 16th Conference on Italian Association of Sensors and Microsystems, AISEM 2011 ; Conference Date: 7 February 2011 Through 9 February 2011; Conference Code:88105