Synthesis Pathways of Conducting Polymers and Nanocomposites for Hazardous Chemical Detection

Abstract: The field of Volatile Organic Chemical (VOC) sensors is rapidly growing, driven by the increasing demands of modern advanced technologies. Conducting polymers and their nanocomposites play a crucial role as chemical sensor materials, offering significant advantages over traditional inorganic semiconductors. The nano-sized particles in polymer-based sensing devices enhance both sensitivity and selectivity due to various interactions between the target chemicals and the polymer nanocomposite. Currently, polyaniline (PANI), Poly aminophenol, poly phenylenediamine and its nano composite are widely studied in the field of sensing materials. However, due to their inherently low conductivity, they are not effective standalone sensors. To overcome this limitation, silver, copper and Carbon nanotube (CNT) nanocomposites integrated with conjugated polymers have emerged as excellent sensing materials. This review highlights recent advancements in the development and design of conjugated polymer nanocomposite (CPNP)-based sensors, emphasizing their potential for highly selective and sensitive chemical detection.