SnO2 and Ni doped SnO2 /polythiophene nanocomposites for gas sensing applications

Abstract

This short letter reports the achievement of promising sensing properties by using pure and Ni doped SnO2-Polythiophene nanostructured materials. These nanocomposites of SnO2 (undoped and doped with Ni) and polythiophene (PTh) were synthesized by electrochemical oxidative polymerization of thiophene in the presence of the two types of nanoparticles obtained by co‐precipitation. The as obtained materials were used as active layer in sensing devices. The nanocomposites were structurally characterized and their electrochemical properties were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry. The nanocomposites conductivity variation with temperature was studied in air and then were exposed to different pollutant gases to investigate the composites suitability for gas sensing applications, which prove to be promising materials.