Vapor sensors based on functionalized carbon nanotubes (NTs) have shown greatpromise, with high sensitivity conferred by the reduced dimensionality andexceptional electronic properties of the NT. Critical challenges in thedevelopment of NT-based sensor arrays for chemical detection include thedemonstration of reproducible fabrication methods and functionalization schemesthat provide high chemical diversity to the resulting sensors. Here, we outlinea scalable approach to fabricating arrays of vapor sensors consisting of NTfield effect transistors functionalized with single-stranded DNA (DNA-NT).DNA-NT sensors were highly reproducible, with responses that could be describedthrough equilibrium thermodynamics. Target analytes were detected even in largebackgrounds of volatile interferents. DNA-NT sensors were able to discriminatebetween highly similar molecules, including structural isomers and enantiomers.The sensors were also able to detect subtle variations in complex vapors,including mixtures of structural isomers and mixtures of many volatile organiccompounds characteristic of humans.
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