Gas detecting nanosensors synthesized through polymerization of pyrrole

(Nanowerk News) Naader Alizadeh and Sajjad Pirsa, researchers from Tarbiat Modarres University in Tehran, managed to fabricate nanosensors for pollutant gas leak detection through polymerization of pyrrole (see paper in Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical: "A selective DMSO gas sensor based on nanostructured conducting polypyrrole doped with sulfonate anion").
Formation of nanostructured polymers over the nanosensor surface increases its interfacial area with the analyte gas so that detection at ultra low concentration levels is enabled. The research was aimed at synthesis of accurate sensors for identifying pollutant or toxic gases whose detection and analysis are of interest for particular purposes. Accordingly, the mentioned researchers prepared anion-doped polypyrrole samples by adoption of both the solvent and vapor phase polymerization techniques.
Based on the obtained results, the polymer films synthesized within the solvent phase exhibit higher electrical conductance and consequently allow creation of more sensitive and high-resolution gas detecting sensor devices.
"We analyzed the FT-IR spectrums for the synthesized polymers to conclude that solfunated compounds have been embedded well within the polymer matrices. Utilization of conducting nanostructured polymers as well as choice of a suitable anion dopant type are among the key features of the research that has led to the accurate nanosensor which maintains favorable performance at low temperatures and offers a conveniently short response time," Sajjad Pirsa pointed out.
Source: INIC