Transparent conducting films of hierarchically nanostructured polyaniline networks on flexible substrates for high-performance gas sensors

Abstract

Transparent chemical gas sensors are assembled from a transparent conducting film of hierarchically nanostructured polyaniline (PANI) networks fabricated on a flexible PET substrate, by coating silver nanowires (Ag NWs) followed by the in situ polymerization of aniline near the sacrificial Ag NW template. The sensor exhibits enhanced gas sensing performance at room temperature in both sensitivity and selectivity to NH3 compared to pure PANI film.

Keywords: gas sensors; polyaniline; polymer networks; quasi-one-dimensional nanostructures; silver nanowires; transparent conducting films.