Frontal polymerization of acrylamide complex with nanostructured ZnS and PbS: Their characterizations and sensing applications

Abstract

In the present communication, thermal frontal polymerization (TFP) technique has been employed for the synthesis of ZnS/polyacrylamide and PbS/polyacrylamide nanocomposites. In order to understand the sensitivity of these polymeric nanocomposites towards the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), the sensing surfaces have been scanned using scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscope and atomic force microscope. X-ray diffraction reveals the formation of ZnS/polyacrylamide and PbS/polyacrylamide nanocomposites. Solid state pellets have been prepared under uniaxial pressure and temporal variation of electrical resistance has been recorded for different concentrations of LPG at room temperature (27°C). The effect of the surface morphologies on the response of the fabricated device is the focus of the investigation. Better sensitivity and sensor response, small response and recovery times, and long term stability promise to PbS/polyacrylamide as a better LPG sensor in comparison to ZnS/polyacrylamide.