Polyaniline-functionalized polycarbonate filter as a flow-through gas sensor

Flow-through gas sensor made of a thin polyaniline film deposited on polycarbonate ion-track membrane has been fabricated by in-situ polymerization. Responses of the sensor to H₂ and NH₃ gases were evaluated by monitoring the changes in electrical resistance between the opposite sides of the membrane at room temperature. The gas flew through the membrane pores and the effect of enhanced interaction between gas and the surface of the sensor has been investigated. Response time and sensitivity were significantly higher compared to common probe-type sensor and further enhanced with increasing gas flow. We also examined the effect of the electric field within the pores of the membrane to the response of the sensor. As we have shown, the sensitivity of the sensor can be further increased by functionalization of PANI with TiO₂ nanoparticles.