Effect of alkaline and alkaline earth ion exchanged Y zeolites on electrical conductivity and response of PEDOT-PSS/Y zeolite composites toward SO2

This work reports on the association between a conductive polymer and zeolite framework towards SO2. Responses and the interaction mechanism of conductive polymer/zeolite composite sensors were investigated. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT)-poly(styrene sulphonic acid) (PSS) complexes were prepared at a 1 : 1 molar ratio of EDOT/PSS. The adsorption properties of the faujasite zeolite (sodium form), with a Si/Al mole ratio of 5.1, were modified by changing the existing cation with alkaline and alkaline earth metal. The composites were fabricated to investigate the effects of zeolite content (vol.-%) and cation type (univalent cation: H+, Li+, Na+ and K+; divalent cation: Mg2+, Ca2+ and Ba2+) of faujasite zeolite type Y on electrical conductivity response when exposed to SO2. The highest electrical conductivity response and sensitivity belonged to the PEDOT-PSS/KY zeolite composite. The different cation types in the Y zeolite can fine tune the adsorption-desorption properties, which influenced the electrical sensitivity of the composite. The composites showed reversibility to detect SO2.