A bio-inspired two-layer sensing structure of polypeptide and multiple-walled carbon nanotube to sense small molecular gases.
In this paper, we propose a bio-inspired, two-layer, multiple-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-polypeptide composite sensing device. The MWCNT serves as a responsive and conductive layer, and the nonselective polypeptide (40 mer) coating the top of the MWCNT acts as a filter into which small molecular gases pass. Instead of using selective peptides to sense specific odorants, we propose using nonselective, peptide-based sensors to monitor various types of volatile organic compounds. In this study, depending on gas interaction and molecular sizes, the randomly selected polypeptide enabled the recognition of certain polar volatile chemical vapors, such as amines, and the improved discernment of low-concentration gases. The results of our investigation demonstrated that the polypeptide-coated sensors can detect ammonia at a level of several hundred ppm and barely responded to triethylamine.
Analytical Chemistry Section, Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology, Hsinchu 30325, Taiwan. rubsico@ms28.hinet.net.
Li-Chun
LC
Wang
Analytical Chemistry Section, Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology, Hsinchu 30325, Taiwan. pandasu0926@gmail.com.
Tseng-Hsiung
TH
Su
Analytical Chemistry Section, Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology, Hsinchu 30325, Taiwan. johnnie.ho1213@msa.hinet.net.
Cheng-Long
CL
Ho
Analytical Chemistry Section, Chung-Shan Institute of Science & Technology, Hsinchu 30325, Taiwan. sunmanup@gmail.com.
Shang-Ren
SR
Yang
Department of Electrical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, No. 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan. swchiu1984@gmail.com.
Shih-Wen
SW
Chiu
Department of Chemistry, National Central University, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan. herman.h.kuo@gmail.com.
Han-Wen
HW
Kuo
Department of Electrical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, No. 101, Sec. 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu 30013, Taiwan. kttang@ee.nthu.edu.tw.
Kea-Tiong
KT
Tang
D000641:Ammonia / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005740:Gases / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*
D005740:Gases; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D010455:Peptides; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D000641:Ammonia