Room temperature detection of tridecane using filled DWCNT

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health challenge, particularly in low-income regions. Conventional diagnostic techniques are often hindered by invasiveness and extended processing times. This study presents a novel resistive gas sensor based on tin dioxide (SnO 2 ) encapsulated within double-walled carbon nanotubes (DWCNTs) for the selective detection of tridecane, a volatile organic compound (VOC) biomarker associated with TB. The encapsulation of SnO 2 within the inner channel of DWCNTs has a dual benefit of preserving the outer-wall characteristics, which is critical for room-temperature sensing and faster response time, while still offering improved sensitivity due to the encapsulated metal oxide. Structural and morphological analyses confirmed the successful integration of SnO 2 within the nanotubes, while gas sensing evaluations demonstrated a significant 63 % improvement of the response toward tridecane, with a rapid detection time of approximately 20 s, compared to 75 s for pristine DWCNTs. These findings underline the potential of SnO 2 @DWCNT-based sensors as cost-effective, building blocks for highly sensitive, and non-invasive platform for TB diagnostics.