Electrosynthesis and study of some physical properties of conductive and solid-state gas sensing polydiphenylamine

•Proposing an original route for sensing-related polydiphenylamine powder synthesis.•Performing an original set of physical characterization protocols (FTIR, DSC, TAG, etc.).•Outlining the aspects of DC/AC conductivities as guides to physical transducers-related performance of the as-grown material. Polydiphenylamine was prepared using electrochemical oxidation of the corresponding monomer diphenylamine in an acetonitrile solution containing sodium perchlorate (NaClO4) and characterized spectroscopically. First, some physical characterization using infrared (FTIR) measurement shows that this material has a polymeric structure. Moreover, Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetric analysis (TAG) showed a good stability at temperatures above 200°C. Second, the electrical conductivity and dielectric properties of polydiphenylamine were studied as guides for sensing performance using impedance spectroscopy technique in the frequency range 5Hz–13MHz at various temperatures (118–150°C). DC conductivity is thermally activated with activation energy around 0.65eV. On the other hand AC conductivity is investigated through Jonscher law. The imaginary part of the complex impedance has a maximum whose relaxation frequency increases with temperature according to Arrhenius law. Finally, Values of dielectric constants ɛ1 and ɛ2 were calculated.