Sulphonic acids doped poly(N-ethyl aniline): A material for humidity sensing application

Substituted polyaniline, poly(N-ethyl aniline) (PNEA), doped with camphor sulphonic acid (CSA) and p-toluene sulphonic acid (p-TSA), was synthesized by single-step chemical polymerization method using ammonium persulphate as an oxidizing agent. This is a single-step polymerization process to synthesize directly the conducting emeraldine salt phase of the polymer using CSA and p-toluene sulphonic acid as dopants. The synthesized polymers were characterized by UV–vis and FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, TGA/SDTA, DSC, and conductivity measurements. This single-step chemical synthesis method offers a polymer having very good physicochemical properties with good electrical conductivity. High temperature conductivity measurements show “thermal activated behavior.” The change in resistance with respect to % relative humidity (% RH) is observed, when pressed pellets of the polymer were exposed to the broad range of humidity (ranging between 20 and 100% RH). POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:1621–1629, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers