As part of an Industrial Collective Research (IGF) research project, functional coatings are to be developed to produce simple and inexpensive breakthrough detectors with electrochemically active surfaces for the AMC contaminants ammonia and formaldehyde. In a previous project*, it has already been shown that electrochemically produced surfaces provide a detectable signal due to interactions with the respective gas and are therefore suitable in principle for the application. The aim of the project is to use intrinsically conductive polymers to improve the sensitivity and selectivity of the functional layers.
Introduction
Due to increasing requirements for clean production environments, the focus in cleanroom technology is on reducing chemical contamination (airborne molecular contamination, AMC for short) in the room air. The AMC filters used for this purpose consist of various activated carbons or ion exchangers with limited absorption capacity. A breakthrough occurs unnoticed if the material is overloaded and can lead to considerable production losses. AMC filters must therefore be replaced at regular intervals as a precautionary measure before the end of their possible service life. This results in high costs and large quantities of waste. As AMC filters are relatively expensive special products, considerable potential savings can be made, which makes their implementation in marketable products very promising. As cleanroom filters are used in a wide variety of sectors, such as the semiconductor industry, the pharmaceutical and life science industry, microelectronics, optics, cosmetics and food production as well as genetic engineering and medical technology, the corresponding market and application potential is huge.
Commercially available gas sensors are usually robust electrochemical sensors (ECS) consisting of two or three electrodes and an ion-conducting electrolyte. The electrochemical conversion of the target gases takes place at the working electrode. The released electrons flow via an external circuit to the counter electrode and lead to a measurable current flow that is proportional to the amount of gas converted. The charge is balanced by diffusion of the resulting ions through the ion-conducting electrolyte. However, sensors of this type require complex and expensive electronic peripherals for signal evaluation. The more cost-effective alternative to ECS sensors are metal oxide (MOX) sensors. These use the change in electrical resistance as a function of the gas concentration present. However, this dependency is not linear and is also strongly influenced by ambient conditions and ageing drift. This means that complex calibration work is required before MOX sensors can be used. In contrast to ECS sensors, MOX sensors can be evaluated using simple electronic circuits. Mobile MOX sensors, e.g. for monitoring indoor air quality, generally have higher detection limits than the detection systems planned here. The detection limits of mobile MOX sensors for NH3 are in the range of approx. 1 ppm.
The detection limits achieved in the predecessor project AiF IGF 18182N [1] were for SO2: 17.4 mg/m3, NH3: 9.58 mg/m3 and HCl: 5.4 mg/m3. Relevant threshold values for gas contaminants are 14 mg/m3 (20 ppm) for NH3 as a workplace limit value and in accordance with the Animal Welfare Livestock Farming Ordinance. In outdoor air, it is < 700 µg/m3 (1 ppm) [2]. For this reason, detection limits in the single-digit ppm range are aimed for in the context of the work carried out here.
In order to increase the sensitivity, selectivity and stability of online gas sensors, intrinsically conductive polymers in particular are being considered in research as gas-sensitive surfaces [3]. These are characterized by the fact that the conductivity of the polymer can be increased by orders of magnitude up to the conductivity of semiconductors or metals through redox reactions between the target gas and the polymer surface. These conductive polymers include, for example, polyacetylene (PA), poly(p-phenylene) (PPP), polypyrrole (PPy), polythiophene (PTh) and polyaniline (PANI) [4, 5]. In a neutral state, conductive polymers behave similarly to semiconductors.
Fig. 1: Polyaniline structure diagram (PANI), n+m=1; x=degree of polymerization [24]
Oxidation of the polymer chain (e.g. by corresponding process gases) increases the conductivity by releasing electrons (p-semiconducting). When the polymer chain is reduced, the conductivity is also increased by absorbing electrons (n-semiconducting). The production of polyaniline (PANI) by electropolymerization and other applications of the polymer are based on its intrinsic conductivity. This results from the electronic structure and its oxidation states. Basically, a distinction is made between three oxidation states, which can also be distinguished by their different colors (see Figs. 1, 2 and 6) Leucoemeraldine: Here, all molecular structures in the chain correspond to the aniline structure with an amine bond, i.e. in the structural formula n=1 and m=0. This is the fully reduced form and is not conductive.
Fig. 2: Reaction scheme for polymerization [25]
Pernigraniline: In this fully oxidized form, n=0 and m=1, and all nitrogen bonds are present as imines. Emeraldine: In neutral form also known as Emeraldine base, in doped form after addition of acid as Emeraldine salt (see Fig. 2). The imine nitrogens - if present, since n=m=0.5 - are protonated by the acid [6]. In this form, PANI is suitable for applications that require electronic conductivity, e.g. the production of conductive coatings, for corrosion protection and for electrochromic applications. The polymerization reaction of aniline is an electrophilic substitution while retaining the aromatic structure. It takes place via a radical cation intermediate [7].
All conductive polymers are sensitive to redox-active gases and some, such as polyaniline or polypyrrole, are also sensitive to acids and bases. The sensitivity and selectivity of conductive polymers can be adapted to the desired target gas by combining them with other polymers or with metal and metal oxide nanoparticles [8-11]. Current work on gas sensors for the quantitative measurement of ammonia and formaldehyde concentrations as well as for other target gases is described in the literature [12-23]. Various modifications of semiconductor surfaces and conductive polymers as well as combinations of both materials are being investigated as gas-sensitive surfaces. The detection limits achieved are in the range of a few ppm to the upper ppb range.
- Electron-absorbing gases (e.g. H2S, NO2, SO2)
- Electron-emitting gases (e.g. CO, NH3)
As part of the project, several conductive polymers were combined with different metal particles and deposited as hybrid layers. The aim was to achieve the most selective and sensitive layer possible for gas detection. The metals can be pure metals, metal oxides or metal alloys. Various electrochemical options are available for this purpose. In this publication, the focus is on optimizing the electrochemical deposition of polyaniline for ammonia detection. The aim here was to produce gas-sensitive coatings with good adhesion and reproducibility.
The project partners at the Institute for Energy and Environmental Technology (IUTA) in Duisburg were responsible for setting up the testing and measurement technology and for developing the evaluation electronics, which were implemented on commercially available sensors as a reference for the gas-sensitive coatings to be developed.
Experimental substrates used
In order to determine only the influence of the polymer layer in the measurements, insulating material was used as a substrate. Nevertheless, a basic conductivity via the ITO layer or the gold conductor tracks is necessary and given for the contacting or coating.
On the one hand, glass substrates with an ITO layer were used for preliminary tests. These were used to investigate various process parameters. For the actual measurements of sensor activity, interdigital electrodes (IDE) made of glass were used as detectors for electrochemically active surfaces. Figure 3-5 shows the respective surface morphology of the ITO and gold layers under a scanning electron microscope.
The basic structure of the detector to be developed is shown in the lead image. It consists of a carrier layer (1, insulator), an interdigital electrode (2, gold) and the electrochemically produced gas-sensitive layer (3, polymer).
The deposition area, and therefore the size of the substrate, was 2-4 cm2 depending on the substrate used. The electrodes were arranged vertically and parallel to the anode (Pt wire/sheet).
The substrates were pretreated with ethanol before electrochemical deposition and, in later experiments, additionally conditioned in 1M sulphuric acid by applying a cyclic potential between -0.2 and 1.5V (vs Ag/AgCl).
Devices used / deposition conditions
A solution of 0.5M aniline and 1M sulphuric acid was used as the electrolyte for the electrochemical deposition experiments. This is a clear solution. The deposition was carried out with an electrolyte volume of 50-100 ml at room temperature (approx. 18-22 °C). As a post-treatment, the samples were immersed in deionized water and air-dried or rinsed with deionized water and dried using compressed air.
Cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry were used as current modulation for the electrochemical deposition tests and investigations. A Biologic SP150 potentiostat with a 20 A amplifier under the control of the EC-Lab software was used for this purpose. All experiments were carried out using a three-electrode arrangement with a saturated Ag/AgCl electrode as a reference electrode. The first deposition experiments were carried out potentiostatically. A platinum wire was used as the counter electrode. Potentiodynamic experiments were carried out to further optimize the layer properties. For this purpose, a potential between -0.2 V and 0.8 V was applied for a different number of cycles at a feed rate of 50 mV/s. Care must be taken to ensure that both oxidation states of the polymer are within the reaction window for successful electropolymerization of the aniline. Further restructuring of the polymer chain can take place during the rescan.
Fig. 6: Color representation of the oxidation states
a) a: ITO glass; clear;
b) yellow - leucoemeraldine;
c) green - emeraldine;
d) blue - pernigraniline;
e) black - polymer decomposed
As already explained, the different oxidation states of polyaniline differ in their color. Figure 6 b-e shows the polymer layers at different potentials and thus oxidation states. Various substrates were coated during the course of the project. Initially, ITO glass substrates were used. The electrochemical experiments were then carried out on flat gold layers. After characterization and evaluation of the layers at the Research Institute for Precious Metals and Metal Chemistry (fem) using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), focussed ion beam (FIB), conductivity measurements and adhesion strength, the most promising systems were transferred to the interdigital electrodes. These were made available to the project partner IUTA for the measurements in order to verify their function and suitability as an electrochemically active surface for the detection of the intended gases.
The results of the potentiostatic and potentiodynamic electropolymerization of the aniline are discussed below. A commercially spin-coated polyaniline layer is used as a reference.
Potentiostatic deposition
Fig. 7: Curve orange blue: 0.85V, 30 and 60 sec; optimized samples - curve red green yellow, potentiostatic 0.85V
For the potentiostatic deposition tests, the potential range between 0.7-0.85 V and the deposition time were varied and the corresponding layers were characterized. The most promising systems were given to the IUTA for characterization as a possible detector system. Figure 7 (orange, blue) shows the current curve at 0.85 V over 30 or 60 s. The current-time curve of three samples with identical deposition conditions is shown in red, green and yellow. The samples produced were examined for reproducibility.
Potentiodynamic deposition
Fig. 8: Orange curve: Cyclic voltammogram of the electropolymerization of aniline on ITO glass (0.5 M) in H2SO4 (1.0 M); blue curves: Potentiodynamic, cyclic voltammogram 50 cycles, 50 mV/s
For the potentiodynamic experiments, a potential range of -0.2 V to 0.8 V vs. Ag/AgCl was cycled at a feed rate of 50 mV/s. A corresponding cyclic voltammogram is shown in Figure 8 (orange). Here, the first oxidation at about 0.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl corresponds to the conversion from leucoemeraldine to emeraldine and the color of the polymer layer changes from yellow to green. Further oxidation to pernigraniline takes place from about 0.75 V and the polyaniline turns blue. The conductivity of the PANI is highest between these two potentials. From 0.9 V, a steep increase in current leads to decomposition of the polymer [27] (Fig. 6 e). The hydrolysis products lead to a non-adhesive, matt and velvety polymer surface.
In Figure 8, 50 cycles (blue) were used for an electropolymerization. The increasing layer thickness leads to a significant increase in the amount of charge converted per cycle and thus the height of the reduction and oxidation peaks. Figure 9 shows three curves (cycle 40 in each case) of identically produced samples for comparison. The main aim here is to assess the reproducibility. The corresponding samples show a very similar curve and were sent to the IUTA for further characterization.
The results
A selection of the polymer layers produced on different substrates is shown in Figures 10-12. Figure 13 shows the optimized samples of the potentiostatic deposition after a reproducibility check (see Fig. 7). These were then measured at the IUTA. Figure 14 shows the same for the potentiodynamic production variant. The sample in Figure 12 served as a reference.
Characterizations
The images on the scanning electron microscope and the EDX measurements were carried out with the FE-SEM Gemini SEM 300 and FIB Auriga 60 from Zeiss.
Figures 15 and 16 show various scanning electron microscope images of the potentiostatic (Fig. 15 a-c) and potentiodynamic layers (Fig. 16 a-c)
The surface images in the overview (Fig. 15 a) and in detail (Fig. 15 b) of the potentiostatic deposition show fibrinogenic growth (loose network of polymer fibers).
The cyclic deposition shows a completely different surface morphology as an overview (Fig. 16 a) and in detail (Fig. 16 b). The up to 200 nm globular growth [26] (individual round nuclei) forms a compact polymer layer. In the FIB section (Fig. 15 c and 16 c), the layer structure and the layer thickness of the polymer can be determined as well as the ability to overgrow the glass surface between the gold conductor tracks.
Due to the production process, some interdigital electrodes have gold tracks which protrude at the end like a "chip" (see Fig. 15 c and 16 c). This must be overgrown by the polymer to create a conductive connection to the next gold conductor track.
Reference coatings produced with a commercial polyaniline-based paint (Allresist) using spin coating were used as a comparison to the electrochemically produced samples in Figures 15 and 16. Homogeneous layer thicknesses between 20-50 nm can be applied to IDE and ITO. The coating was documented using an FIB layer(see Fig. 17 a-d).
Test stand for gas measurement
The test stands consist of a test chamber with gas connections for the supply and removal of test gases. In the area of an outer surface, the gas-sensitive surfaces to be tested are integrated gas-tight and electrically contacted. Reference gas sensors as well as humidity and temperature sensors are also installed in this area. The test gas is dosed via flow-regulating mass flow controllers from several pressurized gas cylinders with synthetic air and test gases. The relative humidity of the test volume flow of 1 l/min is regulated via an evaporator with droplet separator. Alternatively, air-conditioned room air is used.
The functionality of the test stands was verified by integrated reference gas sensors. The integrated sensors from Amphenol SGX Sensortech, model MiCS-6814, are designed for the target gases NH3 (1-500 ppm), NO2 (0.05-10 ppm) and CO (1-1000 ppm) or the model MiCS-5914 for NH3 only. Relative humidity and temperature are measured using the BME280 sensor from Bosch Sensortec GmbH.
Evaluation
The gas-sensitive surfaces to be developed and the reference gas sensors require the acquisition of the primary sensor signals, the resistance changes and their conversion into an output voltage by external evaluation electronics to be developed. This consists, for example, of a voltage divider with the variable resistance of the sensor and a load resistor in the order of magnitude of the basic resistance of the sensor when zero gas is applied. More complex circuits use operational amplifiers and work with a constant potential in order to detect even small target gas concentrations. To compensate for cross-sensitivities, in this case temperature and relative humidity, "mathematical compensation" was investigated by experimentally determining the functional relationships for the respective interference components. From these results, the function of the concentration of the target gas was derived as a function of the changes in the sensor resistance and the interfering components.
The evaluation electronics developed (hardware and software) were tested on the MiCS-5914 sensor under calibration conditions (T = 20 ±2 °C and RH = 50 ±5 %) and their intended function was verified by comparing the measured values determined with the manufacturer's specifications.
The tests for compensation of the cross-sensitivities (T, r.H.) provided linearized functions of the relative resistances as a function of the change in temperature or relative humidity. Through further mathematical transformations, the functional relationship between the test gas concentration to be measured as a function of the cross-sensitivities can be specified in the following general form:
CGas (ΔR/R0, ∆T, ∆φ) = (1/(1+ β∆φ))1/ϑ x
(1/(1+ α∆T))1/ϑ x (1/A)1/ϑ x (1+∆R/R0)1/ϑ with:
R0 = R(T0, φ0, C0)
C0 = zero gas concentration
α = temperature coefficient, material-dependent
β = Parameter for moisture influence
ϑ = Slope of the R-curve under gas exposure
A = Constant, dependent on material

By compensating for cross-sensitivities (T and r.F.), it is now also possible to carry out investigations on the sensor response under extended ambient conditions. The basic resistances R0 were determined in each case and suitable samples were exposed to the test gas ammonia in order to determine the sensor response and characteristic values such as response and recovery time. Basic resistances of less than 100 k up to several 100 k were achieved. As expected, the associated relative resistance changes with a dosage of 10 ppm ammonia over a period of around 5 minutes only showed a small sensor response of a few percentage points for a relatively small basic resistance of 32 k. A sample with the larger basic resistance of 500 k led to a sensor response of over 30 % points.
Figure 18 shows that further optimization of the sample preparation (different treatments) prior to gas exposure results in larger sensor responses and shorter recovery times. Compared to the reference gas sensor, similarly steep rise and recovery slopes are achieved. After the end of the dosing of the test gas, the relative resistance change does not fall back to the zero line, but assumes a stationary value, as with a dosimeter with integrating behavior.
Overall, the potentiostatically deposited samples had to be pretreated before the test to ensure a homogeneous coating surface. This was the only way to obtain a measurement signal at all. This was no longer necessary for the potentiodynamically deposited samples as these surfaces are directly suitable as detectors.
By changing the deposition conditions during the course of the project, it was possible to achieve the zero line. The results in Figure 19 show that the potentiostatically (gray, red) deposited samples as well as the spin-coated sample (black) have comparable response times to the reference sensor, but the sensor response is significantly lower depending on the gas concentration (0.5 ppm, 2.5 ppm and 5 ppm ammonia).
Fig. 19: Resistance change vs. NH3 concentration 0.5 ppm, 2.5 ppm and 5 ppm at T 24 °C, rH 31 %
In contrast, Figure 19 (green, yellow, blue) shows, depending on the basic resistance of the potentiodynamically deposited samples, that at the 5 ppm ammonia concentration the samples produced are comparable with the reference sensor. The recovery time is slightly longer. At the lower concentrations of 2.5 and 0.5 ppm, the sensitivity is still lacking. Here the sensor response is too low at less than 20 %. Overall, the response times are acceptable compared to gas exposure.
Summary and outlook
During the course of the project, it was shown that conductive polymers can be electrochemically deposited on various substrates using different current modulations and that the layers produced are suitable as electrochemically active surfaces. The challenge is to produce thin polymer layers in the 100 nm range which nevertheless close the 10 µm gap between the conductive tracks. In the potentiostatically deposited samples, a fine, compact polymer layer forms directly on the substrate, followed by a loose, poorly adhering polymer network. This does not provide satisfactory measurement signals without pre-treatment. With the layers produced with spin coating, measurement signals can be tapped directly, but the sensitivity is too low. The best results to date as electrochemically active surfaces are shown by the potentiodynamically deposited samples, as these provide similar sensitivity to a MOX sensor at concentrations of 5 ppm ammonia.
In summary, a detection system was set up and demonstrated at IUTA and sufficient sensitivity was achieved for the gas ammonia using electrochemically active surfaces. Further tests to optimize the polymer layers and selectivity are currently being carried out.
Acknowledgements
The IGF project 21279 N of the Forschungsvereinigung Edelmetalle + Metallchemie is funded via the AiF within the framework of the program for the promotion of joint industrial research (IGF) by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection on the basis of a resolution of the German Bundestag. Duration: 01.08.2020-31.01.2023 extended until 07/23.
* AMC Control, AIF IGF 18182N
Graphics, illustrations and photos: fem
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