Advanced NOx gas sensing based on novel hybrid organic-inorganic semiconducting nanomaterial formed between pyrrole and Dawson type polyoxoanion [P2Mo18O62]6-

Dawson-type K6P2Mo18O62 center dot nH(2)O can be used as an oxidizing agent to polymerize pyrrole and yield a hybrid organic-inorganic nanostructured material [{Py}(6)(P2Mo18O62)](x). By adding the mild reducing agent potassium iodide (KI), the polymerization process was controlled to generate a hybrid material with low polypyrrole content [K-4{Py}(2)(P2Mo18O62)](y). The electrical transport properties of [K-4{Py}(2)(P2Mo18O62)](y) displayed a perfect transistor operation suitable for gas sensing applications. Exposure of [K-4{Py}(2)(P2Mo18O62)](y) to various gases illustrated a selective and sensitive response to NOx gases. In addition, an interesting extended linearity up to 5500 ppm was recorded.