Electrosynthesis of graphene oxide/polypyrene composite films and their applications for sensing organic vapors

Abstract

Graphene oxide/polypyrene (GO/PPr) composite films were prepared by electrochemical co-deposition of GO and PPr from the organic electrolyte of propylene carbonate (PC). The effects of the GO content in the electrolyte and the deposition charge density on the formation of GO/PPr composite films were studied. Blending with GO improved the mechanical properties of the powdery PPr and gave the composite a continuous and porous morphology with an uninterrupted conducting phase. A chemoresistor-type vapor sensor based on the GO/PPr composite film demonstrated a fast, linear and reversible response to toluene with a high normalized sensitivity of 9.87 × 10⁻⁴ ppm⁻¹. The mechanism of sensing the organic vapors with the GO/PPr composite film was also discussed.