Polymer – Nanoparticle Hybrid Materials for Sensors
Date Issued
2012
Date
2012
Author(s)
Hsu, Che-Pu
Abstract
Conjugated polymers based materials are investigated as materials for gas sensing due to they offer the advantages of easy processing, low cost and room temperature operation. The incorporation of inorganic nanoparticles into conjugated polymers also enables tuning the properties of conjugated polymer based materials to improve the sensitivity as it is served as active material for oxygen sensor. We demonstrate by using the hybrid materials based on poly(3-hexyl thiophene)(P3HT) in combination with TiO2 nanorods, significant improvement in oxygen sensing properties is obtained as compared to pristine P3HT. Composition studies reveal that the oxygen sensor sensitivity is significantly increased with the increase of TiO2. The obtained improvement in oxygen sensing sensitivity is attributed to the change of surface properties, electronic properties and morphology of the hybrid materials with TiO2. The results suggest the hybrid P3HT:TiO2 nanorods is promising for resistive oxygen sensing at room temperature.
On the other hand, the present research demonstrates a proposed methodology for sensing volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Numerous VOCs which are typically toxic, volatile and environmental hazard are nowadays widely used in industrial production. To real-time and accurately monitoring the storage or transporting of VOCs is extremely important which protects human, property and environment from damage of VOCs leakage. The present work utilizes the poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT)/ [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) blend to sensing various VOCs. The sensor is found to feature high sensitivity, high accuracy, quick response, broad sensing range, and very low cost. The developed sensor is ease of fabricating into a sensing chip and can be placed anywhere such as pipe joints and tank switches that are potential in VOCs leakage. Real-time sensing is achievable based on the instant response and thus alarm can be activated within few minutes for in time remedies. The research starts from investigation of fundamental knowledge, processing tuning, performance testing and finally extends to sensor device fabrication that can practically perform the sensing capability. The demonstrated results significantly advance the current sensor technology and are promising in commercial validity in near future for human and environmental safety concerns.
Subjects
sensor
polymer
hybrid
VOCs
Type
thesis
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