Electrical properties of carbon nanotubes in flowing vapor

Electric potentials were generated from carbon nanotubes immersed in flowing vapors. The nanomaterials used in this study were multiwall carbon nanotubes（MWCNTs） and silver nanopowders. These nanomaterials were dispersed and densely packed on a substrate and immersed in flowing vapors generated from solution such as water, ethanol and KCI. The potentials generated from these samples were measured by a voltmeter. Experimental results showed that the electric potentials were produced at the surface of the MWCNT samlpes, and strongly dependent on the pretreatment of MWCNT and properties of the flowing vapors. The mechanism of vapor-flow induced potentials may be ascribed to ions in the flowing vapors. This property of MWCNTs can advantage their application to nanoscale sensors, detectors and power cells.