Carbon nanotube devices
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
InventorsHongjie Dai, Jing Kong
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Abstract
This invention provides an assembly of novel nanotube devices that can be employed in a variety of applications. In particular, the nanotube devices of the present invention provide a new class of versatile chemical and biological sensors. The present invention describes methods for growing individual nanotubes in a controlled fashion and for manipulating and integrating the nanotubes into functional devices. It further provides methods for modifying the nanotubes such that their sensitivity to a wide range of chemical and biological species can be achieved.
Claims20
A molecular sensor comprising:
- a) a nanotube device comprising at least one carbon nanotube, wherein a first end of said nanotube is in electrical contact with a first conducting element and a second end of said nanotube is in electrical contact with a second conducting element;
- and
- b) a coating of one or more sensing agents deposited on said nanotube;
- wherein said sensing agents are so chosen such that the agents-coated nanotube responds to a particular molecular species.
A sensing method comprising the steps of:
- a) disposing a molecular sensor comprising at least one carbon nanotube inside an enclosure, wherein a first end of said nanotube is in electrical contact with a first conducting element and a second end of said nanotube is in electrical contact with a second conducting element;
- b) connecting said first and second conducting elements to an electrical measurement circuit;
- and
- c) introducing a molecular species to said enclosure, while monitoring, an electrical response of said molecular sensor.
A molecular sensor comprising at least one carbon nanotube having been treated with a sensing agent, the sensing agent being configured and arranged to cause the nanotube to electrically respond to a particular molecular species.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.