Hybrid materials of single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) were obtained by their non-covalent
functionalization with asymmetrically polyoxyethylene substituted phthalocyanines (MPc-py (M ¼ Cu,
Co, 2H)) bearing one pyrene group as a substituent. The attachment of MPc-py molecules onto the
SWCNT surface have been confirmed using Raman spectroscopy, SEM, TEM and thermogravimetric
analysis. The pyrene substituents were introduced to the phthalocyanine macrocycle in order to improve
p–p interaction between the MPc-py and SWCNT. The effect of the central metal on the formation and
sensor properties of the MPc-py within the hybrids has been verified. It has been shown that the
electrical response of the hybrid films to ammonia vapor in the concentration range of 10–50 ppm
changes in the following order CuPc-py > CoPc-py > H2Pc-py, which was found to be in good
correlation with the amount of phthalocyanine molecules adsorbed onto the SWCNT walls, as estimated
by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).