SENSOR DEVICE WITH HEATED NANOSTRUCTURE

• US 20090165533A1
• Filed: 10/03/2008
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nanomix Incorporated (CJY Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Nanomix Incorporated (CJY Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Collins, Philip G., Bradley, Keith, Gruner, George, Gabriel, Jean-Christophe P., Star, Alexander, Han, Tzong-Ru
• Application Number:
  US12/245,638
• Publication Number:
  US 20090165533A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/31.60
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 25/20 by investigating the development of heat, i.e. calorimetry, e.g. by measuring specific heat, by measuring thermal conductivity calorimeters per se G01K

Abstract

A nanostructure sensing device includes a substrate, a nanotube disposed over the substrate, and at least two conductive elements electrically connected to the nanotube. A electric current on the order of about 10 μA, or greater, is passed through the conductive elements and the nanotube. As a result, the nanotube heats up relative to the substrate. In the alternative, some other method may be used to heat the nanotube. When operated as a sensor with a heated nanotube, the sensor'"'"'s response and/or recovery time may be markedly improved.

Claims

1-6. -6. (canceled)

7. A method of sensing an analyte using a nanostructure sensing device, the method comprising:

(a) providing the nanostructure sensing device, said device comprising;

(i) a substrate,

(ii) a nanostructure disposed over the substrate, and

(iii) at least two conductive elements disposed over the substrate and electrically connected to the nanostructure;

(b) exposing the nanostructure to the analyte, wherein at least a part of the nanostructure is at a temperature of at least about 100°

C. and the substrate is at a temperature of less than about 100°

C. during at least a part of time of said exposure; and

(c) sensing the analyte by measuring a property of the nanostructure.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the nanostructure comprises a nanotube.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the nanostructure comprises a plurality of nanotubes.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein at least part of the nanostructure is at a temperature of at least about 200°

C. during at least a part of time of said exposure.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein at least part of the nanostructure is at a temperature of at least about 300°

C. during at least a part of time of said exposure.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein the nanostructure is maintained at the temperature of at least about 300°

C. during at least a part time of said exposure and wherein exposing the nanostructure to the analyte comprises passing an electrical current of at least about 10 μ

A through the nanostructure.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein the nanostructure is coated or functionalized with an agent that renders the nanostructure sensing device responsive to the analyte.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein the nanostructure is coated or functionalized with an agent that renders the nanostructure sensing device responsive to hydrogen gas.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein the analyte is hydrogen.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein the nanostructure is coated or functionalized with tin oxide.

17. The method of claim 7, wherein the nanostructure is coated or functionalized with palladium.

18. The method of claim 7, wherein the exposing the nanostructure to the analyte comprises exposing at least a part of the nanostructure to water.

19. The method of claim 7, wherein the exposing the nanostructure to the analyte comprises passing an electrical current through the nanostructure.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the electrical current is at least about 10 μ

A.

21. A method of recovering a nanostructure sensing device after sensing an analyte, the method comprising:

(a) providing the nanostructure sensing device after sensing the analyte, the nanostructure sensing device comprising;

(i) a substrate,

(ii) a nanostructure disposed over the substrate, and

(iii) at least two conductive elements disposed over the substrate and electrically connected to the nanostructure; and

(b) heating at least a part of the nanostructure, where the heating recovers the nanostructure sensing device.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the heating is performed by passing an electrical current through the nanostructure.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein at least a part of the nanostructures reaches at least about 100°

C. during the heating.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein at least a part of the nanostructures reaches at least about 200°

C. during the heating.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the heating recovers the nanostructure sensing device in less than about 10 minutes.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the nanostructure is coated or functionalized with palladium.