Abstract

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.