Synthesis, Characterization and CO2 Gas Sensing Response Of Conducting PTh/PVAc Composite Films

Abstract: The gas sensing response of Conducting composite films of polythiophene (PTh) and poly (vinyl acetate) (PVAc) produced by chemical oxidative polymerization using a ferric chloride (FeCl3) oxidant solution in methanol was studied. The sensing response of composite film was investigated for different concentration of FeCl3 and CO2 gas at room temperature. It was observed that the resistance of films increases with concentration of CO2 gas. The response of film prepared with 0.70M concentration of FeCl3 to CO2 gas was found to be highest, and ~2.86 min response time and ~10.5 min recovery time. The films were then characterized using XRD, FTIR and TG-DTA techniques.

Keywords: Polythiophene; Polymer Composite Materials; Oxidant (FeCl3); CO2 gas.