AVS 51st International Symposium
    Nanometer-scale Science and Technology Tuesday Sessions
       Session NS-TuP

Paper NS-TuP8
Polyaniline Nanofiber Chemical Sensors

Tuesday, November 16, 2004, 4:00 pm, Room Exhibit Hall B

Session: Poster Session
Presenter: S. Virji, University of California, Los Angeles
Authors: S. Virji, University of California, Los Angeles
J. Huang, University of California, Los Angeles
R.B. Kaner, University of California, Los Angeles
B.H. Weiller, The Aerospace Corporation
Correspondent: Click to Email
Using a new interfacial polymerization method for the synthesis of conducting polyaniline nanofibers, we have developed nanofiber sensors and compared them to conventional polyaniline sensors. Polyaniline nanofiber films give high sensitivity and fast time responses due to their large surface area that allow for easy diffusion of gases into and out of the film. Conventional polyaniline thin films, chemically synthesized by oxidative polymerization and cast from organic solvents, exhibit strong but relatively slow, diffusion-controlled, doping characteristics when exposed to acid or base. In addition to doping and dedoping, polyaniline can also be reduced in the presence of a reducing gas such as hydrazine and swelling effects occur in the presence of organic solvents. This latter process can involve vapor-induced chain alignment of polyaniline in the presence of small alcohols. With a large range of detection capabilities, high sensitivity and time response, polyaniline nanofibers are a promising sensor material.