DC electrical conductivity and rate of ammonia vapour-sensing performance of synthetic polypyrrole\u2013zirconium(IV) phosphate cation exchange nanocomposite

Asif Ali Khan,Rizwan Hussain,Umair Baig

doi:10.1007/s40090-017-0118-z

Abstract

Electrically conductive polypyrrole–zirconium(IV) phosphate (PPy–ZrP) cation exchange nanocomposites have been synthesized for the first time by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole in the presence of zirconium(IV) phosphate (ZrP). Fourier Transform Infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X–ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, derivative thermogravimetry and elemental analysis were used to characterize PPy–ZrP cation exchange nanocomposite. The composite showed good ion-exchange capacity (1.60 meq g−1), DC electrical conductivity (0.33 S cm−1) and isothermal stability in terms of DC electrical conductivity retention under ambient condition up to 100 °C. PPy–ZrP cation exchangenanocomposite-based sensor was fabricated for the detection of ammonia vapours of aqueous ammonia. The resistivity of the nanocomposites increases on exposure to high-concentration ammonia vapours at room temperature (25 °C). The rate of reaction for ammonia vapour-sensing on PPy–ZrP was observed as second order.

Highlights

In recent years electrically conducting polymers have received much attention for use as advanced materials due to their good physical attributes [1,2,3]
In case of PPy–zirconium(IV) phosphate (ZrP) diffraction peaks lie between 15° and 25°, broaden slightly and low intensity of PPy at 34° and 36° appear in the X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern of PPy–ZrP. These results suggest that PPy is polymerized and deposited on the surface of ZrP millimicron particles and there is the successful incorporation of ZrP nanoparticles in PPy–ZrP nanocomposite
The vapour-sensing properties of PPy–ZrP with ammonia vapours can be explained by the interaction of ammonia with PPy in the PPy–ZrP nanocomposite and is almost a reversible process, a little bit of irreversibility is observed

Summary

Introduction

In recent years electrically conducting polymers have received much attention for use as advanced materials due to their good physical attributes [1,2,3]. Abstract Electrically conductive polypyrrole–zirconium(IV) phosphate (PPy–ZrP) cation exchange nanocomposites have been synthesized for the first time by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization of pyrrole in the presence of zirconium(IV) phosphate (ZrP).

Results

Conclusion