Studies on the Sensing Mechanism of Conducting Polymer for Volatile Organic Compound Sensing

In this study, we fabricated chemically polymerized PPy and PANi films with different selectivity by controlling dedoping time. And the sensing properties and mechanism of VOCs adsorption to conducting polymers were investigated. Thin sensor had higher sensitivity compared to thick one, and dedoped sensor for 1-minute highest sensitivity. Upon gas absorption, polypyrrole exhibited positive sensitivity while polyaniline had negative sensitivity. PPy film show hydrophilic property and PANi film show hydrophobic property. After the gas absorption, the sensitivity increased as a function of polarity of absorbed molecules. These behaviors are due to the polar molecules absorbed with the movable polaron or free carrier, and then it interrupt or generate the movement of polaron and carrier, and then it changes the conductivity of polymer. We found that conducting polymer sensors are very sensitive to the difference in polarity of gas molecules.