Inkjet-printed polypyrrole thin films for vapour sensing

Inkjet-printed films of the conductive polymer polypyrrole have been used for vapour sensing at room temperature. The electrical properties, sensitivity, reproducibility and stability of the polymer chemiresistors are reported. A significant increase in conductivity was observed on the exposure of the films to the vapours of simple alcohols. The value of the fractional resistance change, ARM, of the films increased linearly with increasing concentrations of both ethanol and methanol. A relatively high Delta R/R value, approximately 90%, was obtained on exposure to 5000 parts per million of methanol. The response time of the inkjet-printed sensors to polar vapours was generally shorter than that for non-polar compounds. It is suggested that the increase in conductivity may be related to a vapour-induced change in the transfer of charge carriers between the polymer chains. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.