Enhanced thermoelectric performance and ammonia sensing properties of sulfonated polyaniline/graphene thin films

• GN@s-Pani prepared by incorporating GN into Pani, later sulfonated by fuming H2SO4.
• GN@s-Pani film showed enhanced thermoelectric behavior under ageing experiments.
• GN@s-Pani showed better ammonia sensing behavior than acid protonated Pani.

Highly conducting nanocomposite film of polyaniline (Pani) with graphene (GN) was prepared by incorporating GN nanoplatelets in Pani matrix, followed by sulfonating it with fuming sulfuric acid. Sheet-like GN nanoplatelets were distributed uniformly in a Pani matrix, leading to high electrical conductivity due to π–π interaction between sulfonated Pani (s-Pani) and GN. Studies of the thermoelectrical behavior and ammonia-sensing behavior on GN@s-Pani showed high DC electrical conductivity retention under ageing conditions as well as excellent reproducible sensing response towards ammonia vapor in contrast to acid-protonated Pani.

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