Development of Electrically Conductive Poly(3-Hexylthiophene) as a thin Film Sensor for Hydrazine Vapor

Thin films of the electrically conducting polymer, poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT), were developed as sensors for hydrazine vapor at the part-per-billion level. The P3HT films were fabricated by a spin coating technique onto quartz substrates incorporating gold interdigitated electrodes, and were rendered conductive by doping with an NOPF6 solution. The sensors respond strongly and instantaneously to hydrazine concentrations as low as 1 part-per-billion with a measurement accuracy of ±20%. In addition, the sensors exhibited excellent environmental stability, long shelf life, and good interference rejection.