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Electrically conductive Polypyrrole-zirconium(IV)selenoiodate (PPy/ZSI) cation exchange nanocomposite have been synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization of polypyrrole (PPy) in the presence of zirconium(IV)selenoiodate (ZSI) by sol-gel method. The formation of PPy/ZSI nanocomposite was characterized by fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR), x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The ion exchange capacity (IEC) and electrical conductivity of the nanocomposite was found to be 2.49 meq/g and 0.436 S/cm respectively. The nanocomposite showed appreciable isothermal stability in terms of DC electrical conductivity retention under ambient condition up to 130 °C. In addition, the cation exchange nanocomposite based sensor for detection of formaldehyde vapors was fabricated at room temperature. It was revealed that the resistivity of the nanocomposite increases on exposure to higher percent concentration of formaldehyde at room temperature (25 °C), also the sensor exhibited good reversible response towards formaldehyde vapors ranging from 5 to 7%. The present study may serve as a basis for designing other smart materials for formaldehyde sensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Kinetics studies envisage the mechanism of ion exchange on the surface of nanocomposite PANI-ZTP. [•] Exchange process governed by particle controlled diffusion phenomenon which is faster than the film diffusion. [•] Self-diffusion co-efficient of Ba2+ is highest because of greater ionic size. [•] Activation energy is calculated by using verified and validated Arrhenius equation. [•] Negative values of ΔS° indicate the presence of more active exchangeable sites in the proposed nanocomposite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this study, the electrically conducting polyaniline–titanium(IV)phosphate (PANI–TiP) cation exchange nanocomposite was synthesized by sol–gel method. The cation exchange nanocomposite based sensor for detection of ammonia vapors was developed at room temperature. It was revealed that the sensor showed good reversible response towards ammonia vapors ranging from 3 to 6%. It was found that the sensor with p-toluene sulphonic acid (p-TSA) doped exhibited higher sensing response than hydrochloric acid doped. This sensor has detection limit ≤1% ammonia. The response of resistivity changes of the cation exchange nanocomposite on exposure to different concentrations of ammonia vapors shows its utility as a sensing material. These studies suggest that the cation exchange nanocomposite could be a good material for ammonia sensor at room temperature. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]