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Ultra-fast, economical and room temperature operating ammonia sensor based on polyaniline/iron oxide hybrid nanocomposites

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Abstract

The present work reports a facile, cost-effective, template-free hydrothermal preparative strategy for the synthesis of iron oxides, i.e. α-Fe2O3 (haematite) and Fe3O4 (magnetite) nanoparticles. The polyaniline (PANI) and their iron oxide hybrid nanocomposites (PANI/IO) were prepared by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization method. These PANI/IO nanocomposites were characterized by UV-DRS, FTIR, XRD, SEM techniques and tested for their ammonia sensing properties. The newly synthesized PANI/IO nanocomposites were highly sensitive towards a wide range of concentration of hazardous ammonia (1–400 ppm) at room temperature and possess excellent shelf life. The experimental results revealed that PANI/IO sensor shows ultra-fast response (13–26 s) and recovery (14–25 s) time for 1–100 ppm concentration of ammonia, and thereafter, for higher concentrations (up to 400 ppm) it practically remains constant. The responses of PANI/IO sensors were reproducible over entire range of ammonia concentrations for 10 cycles. The cost-effectiveness, operation simplicity, facile method of synthesis, ultra-fast response and recovery with excellent reproducibility make PANI/IO ammonia sensor commercially attractive than the ammonia sensors reported in the literature.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to the UGC and Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India, for technical and financial support. They are also thankful to the N. Wadia College, Pune and BJS’S ASC College, Wagholi, Pune, India, for providing laboratory facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Ness Wadia Nanomaterial Research Centre, Department of Chemistry, Nowrosjee Wadia College, Savitribai Phule Pune University, 19, Bund garden Road, Pune, Maharashtra, 411001, India

    V. V. Chabukswar, M. A. Bora, P. B. Adhav & B. B. Diwate

  2. Department of Chemistry, Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, 411007, India

    S. Salunke-Gawali

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  1. V. V. Chabukswar
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  2. M. A. Bora
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  5. S. Salunke-Gawali
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Correspondence to V. V. Chabukswar.

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Chabukswar, V.V., Bora, M.A., Adhav, P.B. et al. Ultra-fast, economical and room temperature operating ammonia sensor based on polyaniline/iron oxide hybrid nanocomposites. Polym. Bull. 76, 6153–6167 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-019-02703-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-019-02703-4

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