Copolymer Matrix Research Articles

Computer Simulation of Triazole-Modified Urethane Segments

The focus is on the development of siloxane-urethane block copolymer matrices for additive manufacturing applications, including soft robotics. Molecular dynamics simulations compare classical urethane segments with the triazole-modified ones, revealing temperature-dependent behaviors in their conformational structures. The results suggest the potential for tailoring the mechanical properties of polyurethanes through molecular modification, which is crucial for optimizing additive manufacturing processes. Further research could advance material design for customizable objects with desired mechanical response.

Eco-friendly property modulation of biobased gels of carboxymethyl cellulose-integrated poly(tertiary amine)s for the removal of azo-food dyes

Anionic polysaccharide-based gels enable the design of biobased materials with biochemical properties, non-toxic and natural origin. A new set of cationic gels was prepared from carboxymethylcellulose (CMC)-doped tertiary amino functional cationic monomers 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate and N-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl) methacrylamide via the formation of semi-interpenetrated network (semi-IPN) at different polymerization temperatures, Tprep. A detailed understanding of the temperature-dependent synthesis and physicochemical response is required for the design of interpenetrating networks with CMC as an adsorbent that provides effective sources for the removal of azo-food dyes such as tartrazine and carmoisine from aqueous solutions. The variation of elasticity and swelling properties with respect to polymerization temperature was investigated. CMC-integration and polymerization temperature played a decisive role in the compressive elasticity. Incorporation of CMC into copolymer matrix led to a significant increase in elasticity of semi-IPNs, while mechanically weaker gels were obtained with increasing Tprep. Addition of CMC increased the swelling modulus of semi-IPNs formed at −18 °C by 2.6-fold. While the transparency changed depending on Tprep and microstructure, addition of CMC decreased the swelling rate of gels at all polymerization temperatures. The compressive modulus decreased with the swelling process in accordance with the Rubber elasticity theory. Semi-IPN gels showed stable swelling against pH-change in aqueous solutions and exhibited excellent pH-sensitivity significantly in low pH. A 4 to 12 fold decrease in maximum volume was observed by varying the pH between 2.1 and 9.8. The correlation between polymerization temperature and removal of azo-food dyes; tartrazine and carmoisine from contaminated wastewater with CMC-based gels was studied. Dynamic adsorption equilibrium was reached in 30 min, and tartrazine and carmoisine removal performances varied between 92.8 % and 98.4 %. respectively. The adsorption data for azo-dyes were evaluated by Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich, Redlich-Patterson, Sips, and Tooth isotherm models, but were best described by Langmuir and Redlich-Patterson models as they gave the highest correlation. Pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, Elovich, Avrami kinetic and intra-particle diffusion models were investigated and dye adsorption was represented by pseudo-second-order model. After the adsorption process, semi-IPNs can easily be regenerated and effectively reused over five cycles. The study provided new insights towards the facile and sustainable synthesis of eco-friendly multifunctional CMC-based gels carrying tertiary amino groups for effective removal of azo-based food colorants.

Novel Ag-Doped- Poly (aniline-co-pyrrole)/Titanium-Dioxide Nanocomposite Sensor Material for Ammonia Detection in Spoiled Meat

Silver-doped poly(aniline-co-pyrrole)/titanium dioxide (Ag-doped PANI-PPy/TiO2) conducting copolymer-based nanocomposite ammonia gas sensor was synthesized through in situ chemical oxidative polymerization by taking different amounts (4%, 5%, 6%, 7%, and 8%) of Ag-TiO2 (1:1 ratio) nanoparticles. Zetasizer; dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, transmit ion electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared, X-ray diffraction, UV–vis spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, and cyclic voltammetry characterization techniques were used to confirm the real formation of nanocomposites and to evaluate the detection performance of the sensor. The interaction sensitivity of the synthesized nanocomposite sensor with ammonia (NH3) was determined by changing the amounts of nanoparticles. Spectroscopic determination exhibited excellent porosity and a better shift in the absorption bands having band gaps (1.87 eV) for the Ag-doped PANI-PPy/TiO2 nanocomposite sensor than the PANI-PPy copolymer (3.17 eV). Morphological (10 μm) and nanoparticle arrangement studies (20 μm) have shown the uniform allocation of nanoparticles in the copolymer matrix when 6% of Ag-TiO2 (1:1 ratio) was added, while agglomeration occurred when <6% or >6% of Ag-TiO2 was added to the copolymer. A decrease in the amorphous domain of the copolymer with an increase in nanoparticles was observed from the X-ray diffraction and other results.

Preparation and Characterization of Blends with Small Amounts of Polyaniline and Polypyrrole Mixed with ABS Copolymer Matrix

Preparation and Characterization of Blends with Small Amounts of Polyaniline and Polypyrrole Mixed with ABS Copolymer Matrix

Improving Quantum Dot Stability Against Heat and Moisture with Cyclic Olefin Copolymer Matrix

Improving Quantum Dot Stability Against Heat and Moisture with Cyclic Olefin Copolymer Matrix

Eco‐friendly synthesis of non‐isocyanate polyurea using PET and CO2 upcycling: A double green approach

AbstractFrom the perspective of sustainability, this research explored both the recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into polymer materials. To this end, a series of copolyurea specimens were synthesized through the polycondensation of carbon dioxide with hexamethylenediamine (HDA) and terephthalic dihydrazide (TDH), where TDH was derived from the chemical recycling of PET via the aminolysis method. FTIR spectroscopy, 1H NMR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) characterized the products of PET recycling and synthesized copolyureas. Additionally, we sought to identify the optimal parameters for both the recycling and copolymerization processes. The results of identification analyses for both the recycling and copolymerization reactions confirmed the formation of the desired structures. An increase in the hard segment (TDH) led to discrepancies between the intended and actual monomer ratios in the synthesis, possibly due to dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solubility issues or unreacted TDH. Furthermore, the TGA analysis indicated that the initial degradation temperature (Td,5%) of the copolymer increased with the proportion of aromatic rings in the hard segment, underscoring the complex interactions within the copolymer matrix affecting its thermal and structural properties. The DSC results revealed that for copolyureas with the formula HDAxTDH100–x (where x = 50, 60, 70, 80, 90), reducing the x fraction or increasing the TDH content lowered the melting temperature. Furthermore, at a high percentage of TDH, the melting point disappeared entirely due to the destruction of the crystalline structure, indicating a critical threshold where the copolymer transitions from a semi‐crystalline to an amorphous state.

Bimetallic MOF-74-based mixed matrix membrane for efficient CO2 separation

The bimetallic Ni(Zn)-MOF-74 nanoparticles were fabricated by the metal substitution method and doped into a polyether-polyamide block copolymer (Pebax 1657) matrix to obtain mixed matrix membrane (MMM) for CO2/CH4 separation. The pore structure and chemical properties of Ni(Zn)-MOF-74 nanoparticles were controlled by changing the molar ratio of Ni/Zn, and the effect of heterometallic on the gas separation performance of MMMs was studied. In particular, when the molar ratio of Ni/Zn was 2:1, the Pebax/Ni(Zn)-MOF-74-21 MMMs has the optimal CO2 separation performance. The main reason was that Ni(Zn)-MOF-74-21 has the smallest pore size (0.68 nm) and abundant CO2 adsorption sites, which could effectively prevent the entry of CH4 molecules after preferentially adsorbing one or two CO2 molecules, and improve the selectivity of CO2/CH4 molecules. Furthermore, the unreplaced pore size of 1.48 nm and the increased polymer chain spacing in Ni(Zn)-MOF-74-21 nanoparticles could provide a fast transport channel for CO2 and improve the permeability of MMMs. The developed Pebax/Ni(Zn)-MOF-74-21 MMMs loaded with 2 wt% filler displayed a CO2/CH4 selectivity of 33.7 and a high CO2 permeability of 719.9 barrer, exceeding the gas separation performance of many previously reported MOF-74-based MMMs. The results showed that the development and design of bimetallic organic framework was an important way to obtain high performance MOF-74-based MMM.

Sensing 6-Mercaptopurine with a Thiophene-carbazole Copolymer Matrix: A First Principles Approach

This study discusses the impact of cytostatic drugs, particularly 6-mercaptopurine(6-MP), as emerging pollutants in aquatic ecosystems. Computational analyses using Density Functional Theory analyzed the electronic properties and adsorption behavior of the 3-methoxy thiophene (3-MeOTH) monomer matrix and the 3-methoxy thiophene(3-MeOTH)–n-vinyl carbazole (NVK) copolymer matrix in the presence of 6-MP. Results indicate that 6-MP is adsorbed on the matrices of 3-MeOTH polymer and 3-MeOTH-NVK copolymer with weak Van der Waal forces as indicated by negative adsorption energy and a significant charge transfer. Additionally, 6-MP shows notable sensitivities with both matrices, with 3-MeOTH-NVK demonstrating a 37.8% higher sensitivity compared to 3-MeOTH polymer. Enhanced conductance and peak amplitude enhancements in the presence of 6-MP suggest the potential of these materials for drug sensing applications.

Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Properties of Highly Flexible Poly(styrene-co-butyl acrylate)/PEDOT:PSS Films Fabricated by Latex Technology.

As the use of stretchable electronic devices increases, the importance of flexible electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding films is emerging. In this study, a highly flexible shielding film was fabricated using poly(styrene-co-butyl acrylate) (p(St-co-BA)) latex as a matrix and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) as a conductive filler, and then the mechanical properties and EMI shielding performance of the film were examined. Styrene and butyl acrylate were copolymerized to lower the high glass transition temperature and increase the ductility of brittle polystyrene. The latex blending technique was used to produce a shielding film in which the aqueous filler dispersion was uniformly dispersed in the emulsion polymerized resin. To determine the phase change in the copolymer matrix with temperature, the storage modulus was measured, and a time-temperature superposition master curve was constructed. The drying temperature of water-based copolymer resin suitable for film fabrication was set based on this curve. The glass transition temperature and flexibility of the blends were determined by evaluating the thermomechanical analysis and tensile tests. The EMI shielding effectiveness (SE) of the films was analyzed at frequencies from 50 MHz to 1.5 GHz, covering the VHF and UHF ranges. As the filler content increased, the SE of the blend film increased, but the elongation increased until a certain content and then decreased. The optimal content of PEDOT:PSS that satisfied both the ductility and shielding performance of the film was found to be 10 wt%. In this case, the elongation at break reached 300%, and the SE of a 1.6 mm thick film was about 35 dB. The film developed in this study can be used as an EMI shielding material that requires high flexibility.

Mechanical strength investigation of chemically reinforced sandy soil using organic copolymers for geotechnical engineering applications

The chemical reinforcement of sandy soils is usually carried out to improve their properties and meet specific engineering requirements. Nevertheless, conventional reinforcement agents are often expensive; the process is energy-intensive and causes serious environmental issues. Therefore, developing a cost-effective, room-temperature-based method that uses recyclable chemicals is necessary. In the current study, poly (styrene-co-methyl methacrylate) (PS-PMMA) is used as a stabilizer to reinforce sandy soil. The copolymer-reinforced sand samples were prepared using the one-step bulk polymerization method at room temperature. The mechanical strength of the copolymer-reinforced sand samples depends on the ratio of the PS-PMMA copolymer to sand. The higher the copolymer-to-sand ratio, the higher the sample’s compressive strength. Sand (70 wt.%)-PS-PMMA (30 wt.%) sample exhibited the highest compressive strength of 1900 psi. The copolymer matrix enwraps the sand particles to form a stable structure with high compressive strengths.

Smart reconfigurable electromagnetic metamaterials based on thermadapt shape memory Poly(ethylene–vinyl acetate)

Smart reconfigurable metamaterials can better adapt to changing electromagnetic environments and broaden the range of applications. However, constructing electromagnetic reconfigurable metamaterials, especially those with large areas or applied to complex surfaces via a universal approach, is still a challenge. Here, we introduce a smart reconfigurable metamaterial consisting of a thermadapt shape memory polymer ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) matrix and a flowable liquid–metal resonant unit. Based on the excellent self-healing properties of EVA, large-area metamaterials can be constructed by thermal assembly of metamaterial units. In addition, the original shape of the metamaterial can be reprogrammed to apply to complex three-dimensional surfaces with the reprocessing properties of EVA. Moreover, by utilizing the shape memory performance of the EVA, the temporary resonant frequency of the metamaterial can be set by programming and the resonant frequency tuning of the metamaterial can be controlled under external temperature stimulation, achieving noncontact tuning. In the future, this concept can be broadly applied in fields such as complex structure stealth layers and multifunction filters.

Nano Silver Imprinted Starch‐co‐Polymethylmethacrylate Sandwiched Layered Double Hydroxide Nanocomposite Films for Packaging Application

AbstractLayered double hydroxide (LDH) is a special category of layered nanomaterials that has attracted keen interest towards fabrication of hybrid materials for efficient packaging application. In the present study, starch‐co‐poly(methyl methacrylate) (St‐co‐PMMA) copolymeric matrix is sandwiched within Mg‐Al layered double hydroxides (Mg‐Al LDH) along with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) via surfactant free in situ polymerization of MMA. The imprintment of LDH and AgNPs within the copolymeric matrix of starch and their interactions are analyzed by the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) study. The morphological analysis is carried out by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), which indicates the reduction of voids by the partial intercalation and exfoliation of LDH layers. This dispersive effect offered by the combination of LDH and AgNPs not only results in an eight‐fold increase in oxygen barrier properties, but also enhances the chemical resistance attributes of the St‐co‐PMMA@Ag/(Mg‐Al)LDH nanocomposite films (NFs) with increase in LDH loading. Antibacterial activity is rendered by the presence of AgNPs and is further accentuated by increasing the concentration of LDH in the nanocomposite films. This significant elevation in thermal stability, chemical resistance, barrier properties, and bactericidal nature makes the material potential for packaging applications.

Structurally stable copolymer ultrafiltration membranes prepared via vinyl chloride suspension copolymerization and tannic acid in-situ modification integration

Polyvinyl chloride ultrafiltration membranes, widely used in various industries, are hindered by their high susceptibility to contamination. To address this concern, researchers have investigated diverse modification methods, encompassing surface modification and physical blending. Although surface modification provides stability, but it is intricate, expensive, and may result in pore clogging. Physical blending is a simpler approach but lacks durability and stability. Tannic acid (TA), a natural compound, has attracted attention for its potential in membrane modification due to its diverse benefits. However, the existing methods, such as TA-metal networks, encounter challenges of weakened stability and reduced permeability of membrane. To solve these issues, this research presents a novel approach that integrates suspension copolymerization, polyaddition, and a sol–gel process to fabricate structurally stable copolymer ultrafiltration membranes. Active sites for sol–gel reactions were embedded into the copolymer through copolymerization. Subsequently, TA was added to the copolymer casting solution, and isocyanate propyltriethoxysilane was decorated onto TA through a polyaddition reaction. Following this, a non-solvent induced phase separation method was used for membrane fabrication. During the formation of the membrane, a sol–gel reaction occurred between the copolymer and the modified TA, ensuring both stable chemical cross-linking. The membrane demonstrates excellent permeability, fouling resistance, and long-term operational stability. This innovative approach not only addresses compatibility and leakage issues associated with traditional methods but also ensures the stable integration of hydrophilic functional monomers within the copolymer matrix. The proposed method holds promise for advancing applications of ultrafiltration membrane technology in various complex environments.

EVA copolymer loaded with PAni/CNT/GNP hybrids: A flexible and lightweight material with high microwave absorption

AbstractMicrowave‐absorbing materials are widely used for electromagnetic interference shielding and stealth technology. However, most existing materials are heavy, rigid, and expensive, limiting their practical applications. Therefore, there is a need to develop new materials that are flexible, lightweight, and cost effective. This study aimed to synthesize and characterize a novel ternary composite material based on polyaniline (PAni), carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) in an ethylene‐vinyl acetate (EVA) copolymer matrix. PAni‐based ternary composites were prepared by in situ polymerization of aniline in toluene dispersion of CNT/GNP hybrids and EVA. The microwave absorption properties were evaluated using a vector network analyzer in the frequency range of 8.2–18 GHz. The presence of as little as 0.8 wt% of CNT/GNP hybrid with appropriate mass ratio increased the conductivity by more than four orders of magnitude compared to the EVA@PAni blend. The minimum reflection loss corresponded to −40.55 dB at 16.31 GHz for the system containing CNT/GNP = 0.3:0.7, whereas those with CNT/GNP = 0.0:1.0 and 0.7:0.3 presented the widest effective absorption bandwidths (RL &lt; −10 dB), covering almost the entire Ku‐band. Due to the excellent flexibility, low weight, and high microwave absorption performance, these composites are potential candidates for microwave absorption applications.

The Macromolecular Design of Poly(styrene-isoprene-styrene) (SIS) Copolymers Defines their Performance in Flexible Electrothermal Composite Heaters.

Electric cars are desirable for their environmental and economic benefits yet face limitations in range in cold weather due to the increased energy demands for cabin heating. To provide efficient heating for vehicles, flexible composite electrothermal heaters offer a viable solution owing to their lightweight design, efficiency, and adaptability for use within and beyond vehicle interiors. The current study aims to improve electrothermal heater stability and performance by understanding the impact of the polymer structure on composite properties. We explore how the presence and molecular structure of olefinic bonds within the polyisoprene block of styrenic triblock copolymers affect thermal stability and performance. Composite electrothermal heaters were fabricated by dispersing carbon black (CB) as the heating material in three triblock copolymer matrices, poly(styrene-1,4-isoprene-styrene) (1,4-SIS), poly(styrene-3,4-isoprene-styrene) (3,4-SIS), and its hydrogenated version poly(styrene-ethylene-propylene-styrene) (SEPS). The chemical structure and thermal properties of each copolymer were linked to electrothermal performance measurements of composite heaters to establish structure-function relationships. Notably, 3,4-SIS with 28 wt % CB demonstrated the highest thermal and electrical conductivity, resulting in uniform heat distribution. The outcomes unambiguously demonstrate that the olefinic structure of SIS copolymers enhances the electric and thermal conductivity, leading to enhanced electrothermal performance of prototype heaters compared to that of the hydrogenated copolymer.

Optimizing the structural, thermal, gas sensing and electrical properties of in-situ polymerized poly(thiophene-co-indole)/silicon carbide nanocomposites for energy storage applications

Conducting copolymer nanocomposites of thiophene and indole incorporated with silicon carbide nanoparticles [poly (thiophene-co-indole-SiC) (PPSiC)] has been developed by in-situ copolymerization and these nanocomposites were characterized by different analytical techniques. The FTIR peak at 865 cm−1 signifies the successful incorporation of SiC nanoparticles in the copolymer matrix. The intensity of the UV-Vis absorbance of the copolymer nanocomposites increased with the nanoparticle concentrations, and PPSiC7 showed the highest intensity. This was in correlation with its low optical bandgap energy (3.032 eV) and high refractive index (2.388) value. XRD revealed the consistent positioning of sharp and distinct crystalline peaks of SiC in the copolymer. SEM revealed the effective dispersion of nanoparticles throughout the matrix and uniform dispersion was obtained for PPSiC7 nanocomposite. HR-TEM images validated the presence of spherical-shaped particles in the nanocomposite with the nano-size distribution of SiC. The surface roughness of the copolymer nanocomposite was evident from AFM analysis. TGA and DSC revealed that PPSiC nanocomposites have better thermal properties than the copolymer. AC conductivity increased with frequency and temperature. The PPSiC7 exhibits a maximum conductivity of 1.5×10−2 S/cm at 106 Hz and an activation energy of 0.064 eV. PPSiC nanocomposites demonstrated excellent results in degrading dye and detecting ammonia gas at ambient temperature. All analyses showed that the PPSiC7 nanocomposite exhibited superior properties than the copolymer. These admirable properties can be exploited in developing optoelectronic devices, energy storage devices and gas sensors.

CO2-Philic Nanocomposite Polymer Matrix Incorporated with MXene Nanosheets for Ultraefficient CO2 Capture.

The incorporation of two-dimensional (2D) functional nanosheets in polymeric membranes is a promising material strategy to overcome their inherent performance trade-off behavior. Herein, we report a novel nanocomposite membrane design by incorporating MXene, a 2D sheet-like nanoarchitecture known for its advantageous lamellar morphology and surface functionalities, into a cross-linked polyether block amide (Pebax)/poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether acrylate (PEGMEA) blend matrix, which delivered exceptional CO2/N2 and CO2/H2 separation performances that are critical to industrial CO2 capture applications. The finely dispersed Ti3C2Tx nanosheets in the blend polymer matrix led to an expansion of the free volume within the resultant mixed matrix membrane (MMM), giving rise to a substantially enhanced CO2 permeability of up to 1264.6 barrer, which is 102% higher than that of the pristine polymer. Moreover, these MXene-incorporated MMMs exhibited preferential sorption for CO2 over light gases, which contributed to an exceptional CO2/N2 and CO2/H2 selectivity (64.3 and 19.2, respectively) even at a small loading of only 1 wt %, allowing the overall performance to not only surpass the latest upper bounds but also exceed many previously reported high-performance nanosheet-based nanocomposite membranes. Long-term performance tests have also demonstrated the good stability of these membranes. This composite membrane design strategy reveals the remarkable potential of combining a blend copolymer matrix with ultrathin MXene nanosheets to achieve superior gas separation performance for environmentally important gas separations.

Stable and ultralong room-temperature phosphorescent copolymers with excellent adhesion, resistance, and toughness.

Developing stable room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP) emission without being affected by moisture and mechanical force remains a great challenge for purely organic systems, due to their triplet states sensitive to the infinitesimal motion of phosphors and the oxygen quencher. We report a kind of highly robust phosphorescent systems, by doping a rigid phosphor into a copolymer (polyvinyl butyral resin) matrix with a balance of mutually exclusive features, including a rigidly hydrophilic hydrogen bond network and elastically hydrophobic constituent. Impressively, these RTP polymeric films have superior adhesive ability on various surfaces and showed reversible photoactivated RTP with lifetimes up to 5.82 seconds, which can be used as in situ modulated anticounterfeit labels. They can maintain a bright afterglow for over 25.0 seconds under various practical conditions, such as storage in refrigerators, soaking in natural water for a month, or even being subjected to strong collisions and impacts. These findings provide deep insights for developing stable ultralong RTP materials with desirable comprehensive performance.

The effects of interfacial layers on dielectric properties of an acrylic co-polymer containing polymer-grafted reduced graphene oxide

In this study, the influence of interfacial layers, in addition to other effective parameters, on the dielectric efficiency of polymer nanocomposites in the rubbery state is presented. For this purpose, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) was grafted by poly (butyl acrylate) chains (rGO-PBA) via surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization (SI-ATRP) and incorporated into an acrylic co-polymer matrix with the glass-transition temperature (Tg) well below room temperature. The rGO exhibited poor dispersion and uneven distribution in acrylic co-polymer, whereas polymer grafted-rGO showed excellent dispersion. The grafted chains can penetrate and form entropic interactions with the matrix chains, which results in a strong interfacial region. The immobilized interfacial layer was characterized by DSC and dielectric measurements. The dielectric measurements in different temperatures provided the means to evaluate the contribution of the interfacial layers on dielectric properties. The findings confirmed that there exists an optimum chain mobility in which the chain polarization shows a major contribution to the dielectric properties of polymer nanocomposites. Reduction of temperature to a certain degree exhibited more rise in the dielectric properties of polymer/rGO-PBA nanocomposites than pure matrix which can be correlated to the interfacial region.

Giant Response and Selectivity of Hansen Solubility Parameters-Based Graphene-SBS Co-Polymer Matrix Composite Room Temperature Sensor to Organic Vapours.

A styrene-butadiene-styrene co-polymer matrix nanocomposite filled with graphene nanoplatelets was studied to prepare chemiresistive volatile organic compounds (VOCs) room temperature sensors with considerable response and selectivity. Nanofiller concentration was estimated from the electrical conductivity percolation behaviour of the nanocomposite. Fabricated sensors provided selective relative responses to representative VOCs differing by orders of magnitude. Maximum observed average relative responses upon exposure to saturated vapours of the tested VOCs were ca. 23% for ethanol, 1600% for acetone, and the giant values were 9 × 106% for n-heptane and 10 × 106% for toluene. The insensitivity of the sensor to the direct saturated water vapour exposure was verified. Although high humidity decreases the sensor's response, it paradoxically enhances the resolution between hydrocarbons and polar organics. The non-trivial sensing mechanism is explained using the Hansen solubility parameters (HSP), enabling a rational design of new sensors; thus, the HSP-based class of sensors is outlined.