Porous polypyrrole/polymethylmethacrylate composite film prepared by vapor deposition polymerization of pyrrole and its application for ammonia detection

A simple method has been developed to fabricate porous polypyrrole/polymethyl methacrylate composite films. The synthesis procedures include the vapor deposition polymerization of pyrrole on the composite films of polymethyl methacrylate and ferric hydroxide bis(1,4-bis(2-ethylhexyl) sulfosuccinate), successively, washing the obtained composite films with methanol. Scanning electron microscopic and microscopic Raman spectral studies indicated that the pores had an average size of about 5 μm and they were uniformly dispersed in the whole films. The electrical conductivities of the composite films were measured to be in the range of 10− 3 to 10− 2 S cm− 1. The porous composite films showed electroactivity, and the sensors based on them exhibited high sensitivity and fast response to ammonia gas.