Structural characterization, material properties and sensor application study of in situ polymerized polypyrrole/silver doped titanium dioxide nanocomposites

Polypyrrole (PPy)/silver doped titanium dioxide (Ag-TiO2) nanocomposites were prepared using simple and inexpensive in situ chemical oxidative polymerisation. The nanocomposites were characterised by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV-Vis spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) conductivity measurements. Furthermore, the ammonia gas sensing properties of PPy and its nanocomposites were explored thoroughly. The FTIR spectrum confirmed the formation of a polymer nanocomposite when the characteristic bands of the PPy shifted to a lower wavenumber region. The UV-Vis spectrum revealed that all the absorption peaks of the composite were shifted to a higher wavelength in comparison with PPy. The shifts in absorption peaks were due to the strong interfacial interaction between the nanoparticles and polymer chain. SEM images showed that the nanoparticles were well shaped spherical particles with the uniform dispersion in the PPy. XRD results revealed that the crystallinity of the nanocomposite increased with an increase in concentration of nanoparticles. TGA analysis showed that the thermal stability of the nanocomposite was enhanced compared to pure PPy. From the DSC analysis, it was clear that the glass transition temperature of the nanocomposite increased when the concentration of metal oxide nanoparticles was augmented. The fabricated composites showed excellent sensitivity and fast response to ammonia gas at room temperature. The electrical conductivity, dielectric constant and dissipation factor of the nanocomposites significantly increased with an increase in the concentration of metal oxide nanoparticles in the PPy matrix. (C) 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.