Electrical characterization of interdigitated humidity sensors based on CNT modified calixarene molecules

Abstract

In this study, we report on the optimization and characterization of chloroform soluble calix[4]arene derivative as a humidity sensor based on electrical properties. Due to the fact that calix[4]arene molecules are nonconductive, we modified the calix[4]arene molecules with carbon nanotubes with electrostatic bond in order to increase the conductance of calix[4]arene molecule (5,11,17,23-tetra-ter-butyl-25,27-dehydrazinamidcarbonilmetoxy-26,28- -dehydroxy-kalix[4]aren). Using photolithography technique, we fabricated interdigitated gold electrodes with 3 micrometers separation to investigate the electrical properties of carbon nanotubes modified calix[4]arene molecule where we used dropcast method to form a thin film of carbon nanotubes modified calix[4]arene molecule on the gold electrodes. Our reproducible experimental results indicated that the chloroform soluble carbon nanotubes modified calix[4]arene films have great potential for humidity sensing applications at room temperature operations.