Characterization and Gas Sensitivity of Polyaniline/Coral-Like SnO<SUB>2</SUB> Hybrid Material Prepared by <I>In Situ</I> Polymerization

A PANI/coral-like mesoporous SnO2 hybrid material was fabricated using in situ polymerization method at 0-5 degrees C. The coral-like mesoporous SnO2 was synthesized by controlling the hydrolysis of SnCl4 and subsequent removal of the templates by calcination in air. The obtained PANI/coral-like mesoporous SnO2 hybrid material was characterized by FT-IR, XRD, TEM and SEM. The XRD pattern suggested that PANI did not modify the crystal structure of SnO2, but SnO2 affect the crystallization of PANI to some extents. The SEM and TEM pattern suggested that coral-like mesoporous SnO2 was enwrapped by PANI. The gas-sensing property of PANI/coral-like SnO2 hybrid material was also studied to NH3, trimethylamine (TMA), and SO2 at room temperature. It was found that the sensor based on PANI/coral-like SnO2 hybrid material had higher response and faster response/recovery to NH3, TMA and SO2 than that based on PANI. The sensing mechanism of the hybrid material was also investigated.