Graphene/nano-sized Imprinted Polymer/poly(methyl methacrylate) Nanocomposite as a New Gas Sensor for the Determination of Nitrobenzene Vapors

A new nitrobenzene vapor chemiresistor sensor was introduced based on a nanocomposite of graphene/imprinted polymer nanoparticles/poly (methyl methacrylate). The nano-sized molecularly imprinted polymers (nano-MIP) holding the cavities compatible with nitrobenzene molecules were synthesized utilizing methacrylic acid and vinyl benzene as the functional monomers and Divinylbenzene as the cross-linker. The copolymerization reaction was fulfilled in acetonitrile via precipitation method. The nano-MIP particles were mixed with graphene to produce a chemiresistor gas sensor. The addition of poly(methyl methacrylate) in the nanocomposite resulted in better physical durability, enhanced selectivity and higher resistance against humidity effect. The response of MIP based sensor was considerably higher than that of the NIP based gas sensor. The response of the gas sensor was reversible and a relative standard error equal to 3.1% was calculated for 4 relations in the determinations. The sensor showed linear response in the concentration range of 0.10–55.0 ppm. The detection limit was calculated to be 0.04 parts per million (S/N).