Application of Poly(thienylene vinylene) as a chemiresistor for organic vapours

Results are reported about the application of iodine doped Poly(thienylene vinylene) (PTV) as a conductimetric sensor. A description is given of the layout of the sensor, formed by spin coating the soluble precursor polymer on an alumina substrate with gold contacts. The set-up for generating continuous vapour flows over the sensor and the monitoring of the electrical resistance are briefly discussed. Responses (%Ra) of the sensor to a series of nine saturated vapours are reported. Recovery (%Rb) from the response is in general not complete and characteristic for the vapour. The partial recovery is not a poisoning effect and does not affect the reproducibility; on the contrary, graphical combination of %Ra and %Rb shows additional information.