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White graphene reinforced polypyrrole and poly(vinyl alcohol) blend nanocomposites as chemiresistive sensors for room temperature detection of liquid petroleum gases

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Microchimica Acta Aims and scope

Abstract

The authors describe the preparation of PVA/WPPy/hBNNP nanocomposite films by solution casting method from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), water soluble polypyrrole (WPPy), and using hexagonal boron nitride nanoparticles (hBNNP) as a reinforcing filler element. The structural, optical and electrical properties of the material are characterized by FTIR, X-ray diffraction, UV-vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, atomic force microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The nanocomposite films are shown to be viable chemiresistive sensors for sensitive and selective detection of liquid petroleum gas (LPG). The effect of hBNNP loading on the sensing performance was investigated. The nanocomposite films possess good mechanical flexibility and improved tensile strength. These PVA/WPPy/hBNNP nanocomposite film showed a maximum sensitivity (S, defined as a signal change compared to pure air) to LPG of up to S = 0.25% at a 600 ppm concentration at room temperature with response/recovery times of ~30/32 min for 6 wt% hBNNP loading in a PVA/WPPy matrix. The nanocomposite with 6 wt% filler loading shows good selectivity for LPG over vapors of benzene, chloroform, ethanol and acetone. Therefore, this sensor film is a good candidate for qualitative detection of LPG.

Liquid petroleum gas (LPG) sensor has been fabricated based on the use of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), water soluble polypyrrole (WPPy) and hexagonal boron nitride nanoparticles (hBNNP) and exhibits excellent LPG sensitivity (S = 0.25%, at 600 ppm at room temperature) and selectivity over volatile organic compounds.

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Acknowledgements

One of the authors, Gounder Thangamani J is grateful to the management of VIT University, Vellore for providing Research Associateship (RA) to carrying out this research work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, VIT University, Vellore, 632014, TN, India

    J. Gounder Thangamani & K. Chidambaram

  2. Department of Physics, B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent University, Chennai, 600048, TN, India

    Kalim Deshmukh & M. Basheer Ahamed

  3. Mechanical & Industrial Engineering Department, Qatar University, P. O. Box, 2713, Doha, Qatar

    Kishor Kumar Sadasivuni

  4. Centre for Advanced Materials, Qatar University, Doha, P. O. Box, 2713, Qatar

    Deepalekshmi Ponnamma

  5. Centre for Nano Science and Technology, JNT University, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, Telangana State, 500085, India

    Solleti Goutham & K. Venkateswara Rao

  6. Centre for Nanotechnology Research, VIT University, Vellore, 632014, TN, India

    A. Nirmala Grace

  7. Department of Science and Humanities, PES Institute of Technology, South Campus, Bangalore, 560100, Karnataka, India

    Muhammad Faisal

  8. Department of Physics, VIT-AP University, Amaravati Campus, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, 522501, India

    S. K. Khadheer Pasha

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  1. J. Gounder Thangamani
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Correspondence to S. K. Khadheer Pasha.

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Gounder Thangamani, J., Deshmukh, K., Sadasivuni, K.K. et al. White graphene reinforced polypyrrole and poly(vinyl alcohol) blend nanocomposites as chemiresistive sensors for room temperature detection of liquid petroleum gases. Microchim Acta 184, 3977–3987 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-017-2402-1

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