Christina O. Baker

Charge transfer effect in the polyaniline-gold nanoparticle memory system

A composite system comprised of polyaniline nanofibers bonded with gold nanoparticles is shown to possess a memory effect via a charge transfer mechanism. The charge transfer occurs between the imine nitrogen in the polyaniline and the gold nanoparticles as confirmed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. This charge transfer enables a bistable electrical conductivity, allowing the material system to be used as a digital memory device. The charge transfer is further confirmed by the elimination of the conductance switching when the fully reduced form of polyaniline, leucoemeraldine, which possesses no imine nitrogens, is used in place of the emeraldine form.

Size Control of Gold Nanoparticles Grown on Polyaniline Nanofibers for Bistable Memory Devices

Controlling reaction temperature for a set time enables the size of gold nanoparticles autoreduced on the surface of polyaniline nanofibers to be controlled. The size of the gold nanoparticles can be used to tune the electrical bistable memory effect in gold/polyaniline nanofiber composite devices. Turn-on voltages and on/off ratios improve with decreasing nanoparticle size, making this a promising method to enhance performance and create smaller devices. Long-term stability of the composites can be improved by the addition of stabilizers following autoreduction of the gold nanoparticles.

A room temperature polyaniline nanofiber hydrogen gas sensor

Electro-conductive polyaniline (PANI) nanofiber based surface acoustic wave (SAW) gas sensors have been investigated with hydrogen (H 2) gas. A template-free, rapidly mixed method was employed to synthesize polyaniline nanofibers using chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline. The nanofibers were deposited onto a layered ZnO/64deg YX LiNbO3 SAW transducer for gas sensing applications. The novel sensor was exposed to various concentrations of H2 gas at room temperature. The sensor response, defined as the relative variation in operating frequency of oscillation due to the introduction of the gas, was 3.04 kHz towards a 1% H2 concentration. A relatively fast response time of 8 sec and a recovery time of 60 sec with good repeatability were observed at room temperature. Due to room temperature operation, the novel gas sensor is promising for environmental and industrial applications

Camphor sulfonic acid doped polyaniline nanofiber based 64° YX LiNbO3 SAW hydrogen gas sensor

A template-free, rapidly-mixed reaction was employed to synthesize polyaniline nanofibers using chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline. Camphor sulfonic acid (CSA) was used in the synthesis to obtain 50 nm average diameter polyaniline nanofibers. The nanofibers were deposited onto a 64o YX LiNbO3 SAW transducer. The sensor was tested towards hydrogen (H2) gas while operating at room temperature. A fast response and recovery with high sensitivity and good repeatability were observed.