Preparation and characterization of a layered molybdenum trioxide with poly(o-anisidine) hybrid thin film and its aldehydic gases sensing properties

Layered organic/inorganic hybrid thin film, which consist of MoO3 with poly(o-anisidine) (PoANIS), were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) analysis, and gas-sensing properties analysis. The MoO3 with PoANIS ((PoANIS)(x)MoO3) hybrid was prepared by an intercalation process, in which sodium ions were exchanged for PoANIS in MoO3 thin films. The laminated structure of the (PoANIS)xMoO(3) hybrid was shown to have high periodic regularity by XRD analysis. The highly oriented (PoANIS)(x)MoO3 hybrid grains were observed on the substrate surface by XRD and FE-SEM analyses. The (PoANIS),MO03 hybrid had a large gas-sensing response to aldehydic gases, and little or no response to other volatile organic compounds. Moreover, the gas-sensing abilities of (PoANIS)(x)MoO3 were stronger for acetaldehyde than for formaldehyde, whereas other typical organic/MoO3 hybrids showed an opposite response, which can be explained by solubility parameter theory.