Study of Light-Activated Regioregular Poly(3-Hexyltiophene) Photoconductive Polymer Sensing Properties in Nerve Agent Simulant (DMMP) Detection

Abstract

In the present work, we report the use of regioregular poly(3-hexyltiophene) polymer (RR-P3HT) as a potential light-activated material for sensing the chemical nerve agent simulant dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP). The electrical response of thick films of RR-P3HT, deposited by spray-coating method onto a porous laminate substrate at room temperature, to DMMP vapours was investigated. The studied material was activated by light-emitting diodes that emitted light of different wavelengths. The sensing properties of RR-P3HT are considerably enhanced upon exposure to blue and yellow light. However, excitation by the low wavelength light (blue) caused degeneration of the material, resulting in lowered stability. In the case of the yellow light, degeneration was much slower and the limit of detection was 0.4 ppm. The studied material exhibited high selectivity, as it did not respond to 6 ppm of acetone and methanol vapours.

Composites based on conductive polymer with carbon nanotubes in DMMP gas sensors – an overview

“…Another interesting study on light-activated regioregular poly(3-hexyltiophene) (RR-P3HT) photoconductive polymer sensing properties of nerve agent simulant, DMMP, was presented in [71]. The studied material was activated and enhanced by light-emitting diodes (LED) that emitted light of different wavelengths (Fig.…”

“…Powroznik et al [71] explained the sensing mechanism between the P3HT with DMMP vapors based on a conductivity study. Polythiophenes (PTh), including P3HT, have a Lewis base nature due to the free electron pairs on their sulfur atoms [72] and are hypothesized to form adducts with Lewis acids.…”

The Role of Electrochemical and Spectroelectrochemical Techniques in the Preparation and Characterization of Conjugated Polymers: From Polyaniline to Modern Organic Semiconductors

“…Significant achievements included, in particular, the study of the mechanisms of polyaniline formation and the doping mechanisms of many polymers. Years of research have led to many organic semiconductors being tested in applications such as organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) [ 7 , 8 ] sensors [ 9 , 10 , 11 ] and solar cells. Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical techniques used for investigating the properties of conjugated polymers are briefly presented in the manuscript.…”