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In this study, a novel ternary
nanocomposite comprising polypyrrole (PPy), tin oxide (SnO2)
nanoparticles and single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) has been
synthesized by the chemical oxidative polymerization method in an
aqueous medium using anhydrous ferric chloride as an oxidant. The
successful preparation of PPy/SnO2/SWCNTs nanocomposite was
established by several advanced characterization techniques such as
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning
electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis. The initial
direct current electrical conductivity of PPy/SnO2/SWCNTs was
calculated by a four-in-line probe device and found to be 2.53 Scm−1
at room temperature. At the same time, PPy/SnO2/SWCNTs also
exhibited exceptional conductivity retention ability under the
isothermal as well as cyclic ageing conditions. The vapour sensing
performance of the PPy/SnO2/SWCNTs based sensor-pellet was examined
for some organic compounds such as ethanol, methanol, acetone,
toluene, benzene, chloroform and n-hexane. The percent sensing
response of the sensor was found to be 80.1%, 70.0%, 45.2%, 20.0%,
14.9%, 9.4%, and 6.1% toward ethanol, methanol, acetone, toluene,
benzene, chloroform, and n-hexane, respectively.
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Key words: Polypyrrole, Tin oxide
nanoparticles, Single-walled carbon nanotubes, Nanocomposite,
Sensing, Electrical
conductivity. |
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