Synthesis of Ultra-Fine Conducting Polyaniline Micro/Nanotubes Using Fiber Template and Their NH₃ Gas Sensitivity

We have recently fabricated ultra-fine conducting polyaniline (PANI) tubes with high gas sensitivity. This route includes two steps. Firstly, aniline polymerizes on the surface of a suitable fiber template prepared by electrospun nitrocellulose (NC). Then, the NC fiber template is dissolved and the ultra-fine PANI tubes are obtained. The structure of the conducting PANI tubes is characterized by IR spectrum and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results indicate that the PANI shows the shape of ultra-fine tubes with average inner diameter of 250–350 nm. The wall thickness of the ultra-fine PANI tubes increases with increasing the content of oxidant. The conductivity of the doped PANI tubes is about 6 9 × 10⁻² S. The results of gas sensitivity of the ultra-fine PANI tubes indicate that the PANI tubes can act as "electronic nose" to detect toxic NH₃ gas below 20 ppm.