The preparation of polyaniline intercalated MoO3 thin film and its sensitivity to volatile organic compounds

Polyaniline (PANI) intercalated MoO3 thin films with b-axis preferred orientation were obtained by an ex-situ intercalation process. A MoO3 thin film was first deposited on LaAlO3(100) substrate at 500 °C by chemical vapour deposition. It was then partly reduced to [Na(H2O)2]xMoO3, after which intercalation of polyaniline into MoO3 by ion-exchange reaction was performed to obtain (PANI)xMoO3. The resulting (PANI)xMoO3 thin film exhibits an increase in electrical resistivity in response to volatile organic compounds. Good sensitivity and selectivity of (PANI)xMoO3 thin film to formaldehyde and acetaldehyde vapours was observed.