RGO–MWCNT–ZnO based polypyrrole nanocomposite for ammonia gas sensing

Abstract

Polypyrrole (PPy) nanocomposites were synthesized using ferric chloride (FeCl3) as an oxidant by in situ polymerization at room temperature in which reduced graphene oxide- multi-walled carbon nanotubes (RGO–MWCNT) and zinc oxide (ZnO) were used as fillers. RGO–MWCNT and ZnO were synthesized by solution mixing and surfactant assistant precipitation respectively. The RGO–MWCNT–ZnO /PPy nanocomposites were prepared by loading 2, 5, 10 and 20 wt% of RGO–MWCNT:ZnO (1:1) in PPy to measure the electrical conductivity. The PPy nanocomposites were characterized by using FTIR, X-ray diffraction and FESEM. Furthermore, these RGO–MWCNT–ZnO/PPy nanocomposites were investigated to study sensing of ammonia gas at room temperature. The response of 20 wt% loading RGO–MWCNT–ZnO/PPy was observed to be 325% towards 200 ppm of ammonia gas.