Synthesis of poly(acrylic acid) grafted carbon black and its application for sensing ethanol

Surface initiated reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization techniques have been used to produce poly (acrylic acid) (PAA)-grafted carbon black (CB) nanoparticles. The surface of CB nanoparticles was functionalized in the presence of CB-supported macroRAFT agents. The resultant CB-g-PAA composites were characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectra, thermal gravimetric analysis and energy dispersive spectrometry. The composites were dip-coated on epoxy resin electrodes to prepare novel thin film gas sensors, and the electrical responses of sensors towards ethanol were investigated. It was found that the sensors exhibited positive correlation electrical response towards ethanol vapor.