Ethylene is a volatile molecule that is a key factor in fruit ripening and responsible for significant losses in fresh produce worldwide. This research presents a new chemoresistive sensor for detection of ethylene based on polymer/ multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) nanostructures with controlled architecture and composition. The MWNTs are finely dispersed in a polymeric latex i.e. polyacrylate, via ultrasonication, followed by a microfiltration process. The latter step allows preserving the homogeneous dispersion structure in the resulting solid nanocomposite. The combination of microfiltration and proper choice of the polymer latex allows for the design of complex nanostructures with tunable properties e.g., porosity, mechanical properties.
Ethylene is a volatile molecule that is a key factor in fruit ripening and responsible for significant losses in fresh produce worldwide. This research presents a new chemoresistive sensor for detection of ethylene based on polymer/ multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) nanostructures with controlled architecture and composition. The MWNTs are finely dispersed in a polymeric latex i.e. polyacrylate, via ultrasonication, followed by a microfiltration process. The latter step allows preserving the homogeneous dispersion structure in the resulting solid nanocomposite. The combination of microfiltration and proper choice of the polymer latex allows for the design of complex nanostructures with tunable properties e.g., porosity, mechanical properties.