One-Step Fabrication of a Polyaniline Nanofiber Vapor Sensor

Abstract

A single-step, bottom-up technique has been used to fabricate sensors, based on conducting polymer nanofibers. a small amount of an aqueous solution of aniline, a dopant, and an oxidant was placed on an interdigitated electrode array. Ultraviolet (UV)-irradiation of the solutions affected polymerization, yielding a highly porous film of polyaniline nanofibers with a mean diameter of around 100 nm and a length on the order of 1 μm. Solutions that were not irradiated formed bulk-like polyaniline (PANI) films. Nanofibers and bulk polyaniline sensors were exposed to chloroform, a weak proton donor; toluene, a vapor that causes polymer swelling; and to triethylamine, which alters the doping level. Because of their higher surface areas, the response times of the fiber sensors were about a factor of 2 faster, with the current variations up to 4 times larger than those of the bulk polyaniline sensors. These results suggest methods for the advancement of simple and environmentally-friendly production of organic nanofiber-based sensors and electronic devices.

Department(s)

Chemistry

Second Department

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Third Department

Materials Science and Engineering

Keywords and Phrases

Detectors; Nanostructured materials

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

0925-4005

Document Type

Article - Journal

Document Version

Citation

File Type

text

Language(s)

English

Rights

© 2008 Elsevier, All rights reserved.

Publication Date

01 Apr 2008

Link to Full Text

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