Polymer-Functionalized Carbon Nanotube Sensors for Volatile Organic Compound Signal Exchange and Bioinspired Molecular Communication

Conventional electromagnetic communication systems face limitations in dense environments, including high energy consumption, signal attenuation, and interference. To overcome these challenges, we present a bioinspired molecular communication (MC) platform using spatiotemporally allied single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT) sensors for volatile organic compound (VOC)-based signal transmission. Inspired by nature’s chemical signaling, this system employs hierarchical functionalized SWCNT sensor arrays to detect and interpret data-specified VOC pulses with high precision, mimicking pheromone-based communication. The system employs hydrophobic and biodegradable polymer-functionalized SWCNTs on nanoporous cellulose paper for enhanced VOC selectivity and response dynamics, enabling spatial and temporal signal encoding for robust multibit data transmission. Integrated machine learning (ML) algorithms facilitate signal decoding, pattern recognition, and environmental adaptation, ensuring reliable communication under varying conditions. The hierarchical sensor architecture and selective VOC interactions enable applications in gas detection, environmental monitoring, industrial safety, and real-time communication in inaccessible areas. Chromatographic detection of VOC mixtures within the layered sensor network further expands data transmission capacity, offering a scalable, energy-efficient alternative to conventional methods. This study advances bioinspired molecular communication, integrating nanomaterials with spatiotemporal sensing for next-generation, low-power, high-fidelity communication.