Study the Sensitivity of Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) Sensor Coated with Different Thickness of Polyaniline for Determination Vapours of Ethanol, Propanol, Hexane and Benzene

Abstract

A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor coated with a thin film of polyaniline was used as a sensitivemethod for the determination of a number of following vapours: ethanol, propanol, hexane and benzene. Thedetection was based on the absorption of the vapours of these organic compounds into the film by using gas cellchamber. The detection of these vapours can be obtained in part per million (ppm). The work includes the use ofpolyaniline films with different thickness (70, 93, 118 and 176) nm where thickness of the PANI films wascontrolled by the spin coating process. Results show that increasing of sensitivity with increase of theconcentration of injected analyte when the PANI-film-coated QCM was exposed to the vapours of ethanol,propanol hexane and benzene. Best sensitivity to ethanol and hexane were obtained with film thicknesses 93nmwhile in the case of propanol best results were obtained with thickness of 118 and 93 nm. Thickness of 93 and176 nm gave good sensitivity to benzene.Keywords: quartz crystal microbalance, polyaniline, film thickness, ethanol, propanol, hexane, benzene.