(2d) Could Polymers Detect Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)?

With indoor air quality becoming a greater concern, it is important to be able to determine the concentration of indoor pollutants.  Formaldehyde is one of the main gases contributing to poor indoor air quality since it is so widely used in the manufacturing of goods.  Even at very low (ppb) concentrations, formaldehyde can cause respiratory problems and a general feeling of unwellness.  The World Health Organization states that the concentration of formaldehyde over a 30 minute period should be less than 0.08 ppm.  Polyaniline (PANI) doped with nickel oxide and/or aluminum oxide was tested as a potential sensing material for formaldehyde using a test system that included a specialized gas chromatograph (GC). 

            Using formaldehyde as an example, prescriptions are suggested to determine which polymeric sensing materials would be best for any target analyte.  These prescriptions are based on the chemical nature of both the sensing material and analyte (in this case formaldehyde) as well as the type of sensor being designed.  Immediate extensions of these prescriptions would include ethanol.