Sensor platform using a horizontally oriented nanotube element

A sensor platform, comprising

• a sensor element comprising at least one nanotube and having an electrical characterization;
• a support structure, comprising a substrate, for supporting the sensor element, and having a major surface of the substrate substantially non-parallel to the sensor element;
• a conductive element located apart from the sensor element to form a structure in which the conductive element and the sensor element are in a capacitive relationship;
• control circuitry to electrically sense an electrical value reflecting the capacitance associated with the sensor element and the conductive element.

A large-scale array of sensor platforms wherein the array includes a plurality of sensor platform cells, each of which comprises

• a sensor element comprising at least one nanotube and having an electrical characterization;
• a support structure, comprising a substrate, for supporting the sensor element, and having a major surface of the substrate substantially non-parallel to the sensor element;
• a conductive element located apart from the sensor element to form a structure in which the conductive element and the sensor element are in a capacitive relationship;
• control circuitry to electrically sense an electrical value reflecting the capacitance associated with the sensor element and the conductive element.

A sensor platform, comprising

• a sensor element comprising at least one nanotube and having an electrical characterization;
• a support structure, comprising a substrate, for supporting the sensor element, and having a major surface of the substrate substantially non-parallel to the sensor element;
• first and second conductive elements that contact the sensor element at separate locations;
• control circuitry to electrically sense an electrical value reflecting the resistance associated with the passage of current between the first and second conductive elements through at least a portion of the sensor element.

A large-scale array of sensor platforms wherein the array includes a plurality of sensor platform cells, each of which comprises

• a sensor element comprising at least one nanotube and having an electrical characterization;
• a support structure, comprising a substrate, for supporting the sensor element, and having a major surface of the substrate substantially non-parallel to the sensor element;
• first and second conductive elements that contact the sensor element at separate locations;
• control circuitry to electrically sense an electrical value reflecting the resistance associated with the passage of current between the conductive elements through at least a portion of the sensor element.

A method of making a capacitive structure, comprising

• providing a support structure comprising a substrate;
• providing a collection of at least one nanotube in contact with the support structure, and oriented substantially non-parallel to a major surface of the substrate;
• providing a conductive element located apart from the collection so that the conductive element and the collection are in a capacitive relationship;
• providing control circuitry to electrically sense an electrical value reflecting a capacitance associated with the collection and the conductive element.

A method of making a resistive structure, comprising

• providing a support structure comprising a substrate;
• providing a collection of at least one nanotube in contact with the support structure, and oriented substantially non-parallel to a major surface of the substrate;
• providing first and second conductive elements that contact the collection at separate locations;
• providing control circuitry to electrically sense an electrical value reflecting the resistance associated with the passage of current between the first and second conductive elements through at least a portion of the collection.