Conductive polymer containing graphene aerogel composites as sensor for CO2

Abstract

Graphene oxides (GO) prepared from graphite was used in the preparation of three‐dimensional (3D) super porous graphene aerogel (GA) by chemical reduction of GOs with l‐Ascorbic acid (l‐AA) via freeze drying. Then, the conductive polymers such as poly(aniline) (PANi), and poly(pyrrole) (PPy) within the superpores of 3D GA were prepared as GA/PANi and GA/PPy interpenetrating composites (IPC). The electrical conductivity of GA was measured as 4.17 × 10−2 ± 6.40 × 10−3 S/cm, whereas the electrical conductivity of GA/PANi was decreased to a half value and increased 3‐fold for GA/PPy IPC. Moreover, bare GA, GA/PANi, and GA/PPy IPCs were exposed to CO2 gas at room temperature, 20°C ± 2°C for potential sensor application by comparing the change in their electrical conductivities. Interestingly, it was found that the electrical conductivity of GA/PANi IPC composites was decreased 4,000 times upon 60 min CO2 gas exposure at ambient temperature and pressure suggesting potential CO2 gas sensor application of the prepared materials. POLYM. COMPOS., 40:E1208–E1218, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers