Elaboration of Pd-nanoparticle decorated polyaniline films for room temperature NH3 gas sensors

•Setting effective route to make Pd-based PANi nanowires on platinum microelectrode.•Improving gas sensing specs of PANi films at room temperature, no heating device.•Keeping microstructure of films with PANi nanowires covered with Pd nanoparticles.•Enhancing NH3 sensitivity of Pd-PANi sensors as π-electrons shift from PANi chains.•Electrons shift to Pd-NPs due to difference of work function values of components.

This study introduces an effective method of decorating noble metal palladium (Pd) nanoparticles on the surface of polyaniline (PANi) to enhance NH3 gas-sensing performance. The surface structure analysis conducted through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed that the diameters of the synthesized PANi nanowires were 50-100 nm. The chemical composition structure of the PANi composites was studied by Raman spectroscopy. Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) was applied to identify the composition of modified Pd on the PANi composite surface. The obtained results demonstrate the applicability of the PANi composites to improve the sensitivity, response time, and recovery time of NH3 gas sensors.