Kaluzynski P, Kepska K, Maciuch M, Maciak E, Stolarczyk A, Procek M, Jarosz T. Effect of Ultraviolet Activation on Sub-ppm NO
2 Sensing Dynamics of Poly(3-hexylthiophene)-Bearing Graft Copolymers.
Sensors (Basel) 2022;
22:9824. [PMID:
36560194 PMCID:
PMC9783011 DOI:
10.3390/s22249824]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) sensors utilising graft copolymers bearing poly(3-hexylthiophene) chains have been developed and investigated in terms of their operation parameters using different carrier gases (N2 or air) and in either dark conditions or with ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Interestingly, sensor performance improved upon transition from N2 to air, with the inverse being true for most NO2 sensors. UV irradiation both improved sensor dynamics and stabilised the sensor electrical baseline, allowing sensors based on SilPEG to fulfil the requirements of sensing solutions used in industry (below 10% baseline drift after sensors reach saturation) and making them promising candidates for further development and applications. Based on conducted multi-variate experiments, an initial mechanism underlying the interplay of exposure to oxygen (present in air) and UV irradiation was postulated.
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