Ternary nano-composite wireless ammonia sensor based on Polyaniline/CuTsPc/AgNPs for food intelligent packaging

• Published in: Sensors and actuators. B, Chemical Vol. 414; p. 135928
• Main Authors: Zhou, Xin, Xu, Jiaxin, Chen, Dongzhi, Chen, Cheng, Lv, Caihong, Chen, Liangzhe, Ke, Xianwen, Liu, Xinghai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2024
• Subjects: Flexible NH3 gas sensor; Food spoilage monitoring; Near field communication (NFC); PANI/CuTsPc/AgNPs composite; Room temperature; Near field communication (NFC); Flexible NH3 gas sensor; PANI/CuTsPc/AgNPs composite; Food spoilage monitoring; Room temperature
• ISSN: 0925-4005; 1873-3077
• DOI: 10.1016/j.snb.2024.135928

The integration of gas sensing unit and low-cost wireless communication equipment enables real-time detection of various environmental gases, which is of great significance for food safety, medical diagnosis and environmental monitoring. In this study, copper phthalocyanine powder (CuTsPc) was prepared by high temperature solid phase melting technology. Ternary ammonia sensors with exceptional sensitivity to ammonia and conductivity were successfully fabricated by growing polyaniline/copper phthalocyanine/silver nanoparticles (PANI/CuTsPc/AgNPs) composites on polyethylene terephthalate films by in-situ polymerization. The morphology and composition of the films were characterized by FTIR, XRD and SEM, respectively. The ammonia sensing performance of the films at room temperature was systematically investigated. It is found that the flexible PANI/CuTsPc/AgNPs gas sensor exhibited rapid response time (61 s), fast recovery time (19 s), low theoretical detection limit (0.234 ppm), high response value (3.6 towards 500 ppm NH3), and excellent stability at room temperature. These remarkable response characteristics can be attributed to the synergistic effect between protonic acid-doped PANI, CuTsPc derivatives with an electron-withdrawing group, and AgNPs possessing both chemical sensitisation and electron sensitisation. Finally, the sensor material was transformed into a label antenna pattern as well as sensor transducer through series and parallel antenna loop access methods to create a wireless sensor system based on near-field communication (NFC). This system can offer real-time sensing and monitoring of changes in food packaging environment by non-contact recognition way, making it highly promising for future applications in intelligent packaging. [Display omitted] •The ternary composite film for ammonia detection is formed by in-situ polymerization of PANI/CuTsPc/AgNPs on PET.•Preparation of wireless sensor systems using series and parallel access methods and investigation into their distinctions.•Integration of sensitive films with NFC tags to create turn-off micro sensors for food intelligent packaging.•The excellent properties of PANI/CuTsPc/AgNPs are attributed to the synergistic effect among PANI, CuTsPc and AgNPs.