Ink-jet printed flexible gas sensors based on electromagnetic transduction and carbon materials

This paper presents the feasibility of a novel gas sensor based on electromagnetic transduction and Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) sensitive materials. The sensor is designed to provide a differential detection, by comparing the frequency response with and without the sensitive material, in the frequency band between 1 GHz to 10 GHz and can operate for wireless applications. Two designs are presented: micro-strip stub-based and U-shaped resonators, for conductive and non-conductive CNTs, respectively. The first structure has been fabricated on a flexible Kapton substrate with ink jet printed CNTs. Preliminary electrical characterizations validate the CNTs influence and the innovative measurement test cell based on low cost process.