Conductive polymer-based transducers as vapor-phase detectors

We are continuing developing vapor-phase sensors using conductive polymers as the active transducer. The detection mechanism is a result of a structural perturbation in the conductive polymer caused either by a direct interaction of the conductive polymer with the pollutant, or because of a morphological change in the associated counterion. Specific vapors were chosen by classes (i.e., aromatic hydrocarbons, esters, ketones, and NO,) for these studies. Transducer compositions including silane surface coupling agents, and surfactants coupled with advanced signal processing techniques, led to sensitivity thresholds of only a few ppm. With the appropriate electronics, these transducers are components of a multi-sensor array capable of speciation.