Synthesis and evaluation of hexafluoroisopropanol-functionalized polysiloxane as a new coating material for sensors

A new polysiloxane polymer as a coating material for surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors was synthesized. The polymer was a linear polysiloxane functionalized with hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) groups, poly{methyl [4‐(hexafluoroisopropanol) phenylethyl] siloxane}. The polymer was spin‐coated on a 200‐MHz SAW sensor for the detection of a 2,4‐dinitrotoluene vapor. A fast response time of 30 s and good reproducibility were achieved. It was found that the frequency shift decreased as the polymer concentrations decreased. The new polysiloxane coatings showed excellent properties, such as a high sensitivity, high permeability, and low glass‐transition temperature (−40.5 ± 1°C). © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012