Synthesis and gas sensing properties of poly[tetra(pyrrol-1-yl)silane]

Smith, James R.; Campbell, Sheelagh A.; Smith, J.R; Evans, Phillip; Campbell, S.A; Ratcliffe, Norman M.

Abstract

Conducting polymers such as polypyrrole and polythiophene offer a new approach to the design of modified electrodes and sensors. In the current work, the electrochemical and chemical polymerisation of tetra(pyrrol-1-yl)silane is described. Resultant polymers with different anions have been characterised by electrochemical methods, XPS and microanalysis. Molecular geometry calculations suggest that both inter- and intra-molecular couplings are present in the film. Crosslinking of the polymeric matrix via β-linkages will result in a three-dimensional structure with a concomitant reduction in the degree of conjugation, accounting for the low film conductivity (σ ca. 10-6 S cm-1). Preliminary results show that poly[tetra(pyrrol-1-yl)silane] is a promising material for the fabrication of gas sensors. It is unexpectedly sensitive to ammonia and trimethylamine gas when compared with polypyrrole and poly(N-methylpyrrole) prepared in a similar fashion.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 1996
• Deposit Date: May 7, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 15, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Materials Chemistry
• Print ISSN: 0959-9428
• Electronic ISSN: 1364-5501
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 6
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 295-299
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/jm9960600295
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/1105422
• Contract Date: Nov 15, 2016