Enhanced carbon dioxide sensing performance of polyaniline/tin dioxide nanocomposite by ultraviolet light illumination

Improved monitoring of carbon dioxide gas (CO2) levels is a significant scientific challenge in the field of carbon emissions and human activities. Therefore, in present work, polyaniline/tin dioxide nanocomposites (PSNs) with different tin dioxide (SnO2) content prepared through an in-situ chemical oxidative polymerization method. The structural, optical and electrical features of the PSNs characterized, and the performance of the PSNs films (PSs) for CO2 detection at room temperature under presence/absence ultraviolet light illumination investigated. A PS with 20 wt% SnO2 exhibited a response of 39.2% toward 5000 ppm CO2 in dark condition, while it revealed the response and response/recovery time of 47.4% and 35.1/43.2 sec under UV illumination. Moreover, the hand-made sensor demonstrated a reproducibility, dependability and selectivity response in multi-cycle toward various CO2 levels. The research is expected to open novel window for expansion of a type of electronic devices based on the organic-inorganic hybrid material for CO2 gas sensing application.