Room temperature flexible sensor based on F-MWCNT modified by polypyrrole conductive polymer for NO2 gas detection

This project sought to fabricate a flexible gas sensor based on a short functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (f-MWCNTs) network for nitrogen dioxide gas detection. The network was prepared by filtration from the suspension (FFS) method and modified by coating with a layer of polypyrrole conductive polymer (PPy) prepared by the oxidative chemical polymerization to improve the properties of the network. The structural, optical, and morphological properties of the f-MWCNTs and f-MWCNTs/PPy network were studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourie-transform infrared (FTIR), with an AFM (atomic force microscopy). XRD proved that the structure of f-MWCNTs is unaffected by the synthesis procedure. The FTIR spectra verified the existence of the functional groups and bonding for the used materials. AFM images reflect coating the network with conductive polymer on the surface parameters and granularity distribution. The sensitivity of the fabricated sensor was measured after exposure the network to NO2 gas at concentrations of 20 ppm with different operating temperatures using a homemade gas sensor system. The fabricated sensor works at room temperature with a sensitivity of about 56.17% while coating the sensor surface with conductive polymer improves the sensitivity at all operating temperatures.