Study the Sensitivity of Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM)
Sensor Coated with Different Thickness of Polyaniline for
Determination Vapours of Ethanol, Propanol, Hexane and
Benzene
Hani Mahmood Hussien * Mohammed Hadi Shinen
Department of General Science, College of Basic Education, University of Babylon, PO box 4 Iraq
* E-mail of the corresponding author: hanim752003@yahoo.com
Abstract
A quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor coated with a thin film of polyaniline was used as a sensitive
method for the determination of a number of following vapours: ethanol, propanol, hexane and benzene. The
detection was based on the absorption of the vapours of these organic compounds into the film by using gas cell
chamber. The detection of these vapours can be obtained in part per million (ppm). The work includes the use of
polyaniline films with different thickness (70, 93, 118 and 176) nm where thickness of the PANI films was
controlled by the spin coating process. Results show that increasing of sensitivity with increase of the
concentration of injected analyte when the PANI-film-coated QCM was exposed to the vapours of ethanol,
propanol hexane and benzene. Best sensitivity to ethanol and hexane were obtained with film thicknesses 93nm
while in the case of propanol best results were obtained with thickness of 118 and 93 nm. Thickness of 93 and
176 nm gave good sensitivity to benzene.