Ultra-sensitive polyaniline-iron oxide nanocomposite room temperature flexible ammonia sensor

A novel flexibEe, ultra-sensitive, seEective, and room temperature operable polyaniline/iron-oxide (PAni/alpha-Fe2O3) nanocomposite ammonia (NH3) gas sensor was developed onto a flexibEe polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate by in situ poEymerization process. The observations were recorded to 100 ppm fixed level for various gases including NO2, CH3OH, C2H5OH, NH3, and H2S through monitoring the change in resistance of the developed sensor. The flexibEe PAnikt-Fe2O3 nanocomposite sensor demonstrated better selectivity towards NH3 (response = 39% and stabiEity = 74%). The synergistic response of the flexibEe PAni/alpha-Fe2O3 sensor was remarkable than that of the Pani and ct-Fe2O3 aEone; indicating the effective improvement in the performance of PAni flexibEe sensor on nanocomposite process. Moreover, the flexibEe sensor detected NH3 at Low concentration (5 ppm) with a fast response (27 s) and very short recovery time (46 s). Further, PAnikt-Fe2O3 flexibEe sensor films were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, UV-visible and Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared and X-ray photoelectron for structuraE analysis, morphoEogicaE evolution, optical and surface related studies.