Acid/Base Sensors Based on Poly(aromatic amine) Films

Chemiresistors containing poly(aromatic amine) films have been invented to satisfy a need for simple, inexpensive sensors for real-time measurement of parts-per-million and possibly lower concentrations of acidic and basic gases in air. These sensors could also be used to measure concentrations of acids and bases in aqueous solutions. Likely applications could include measuring concentrations of HF, HCl, HBr, and HI near incinerators in which halogenated hydrocarbons are burned; measuring concentrations of HF in and near semiconductor-processing plants; and measuring concentrations of HCl from rocket-engine exhausts. In these applications, the chemiresistors could supplant larger, heavier, more-expensive instruments that are difficult to use, do not respond in real time, and are often insufficiently sensitive.