Abstract
Poly(acrylic acid) [p(AAc)] cryogel has been synthesized by a cryopolymerization technique under cryogenic conditions. The synthesized p(AAc) cryogel was treated with LiOH, NaOH, and KOH to generate corresponding salt forms of carboxylic acid groups within the p(AAc) cryogel network for activation as p(AAc)-Li+, p(AAc)-Na+, and p(AAc)-K+, respectively. The synthesized p(AAc)-based cryogels were characterized via Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. The room-temperature electrical conductivity of the p(AAc), p(AAc)-Li+, p(AAc)-Na+, and p(AAc)-K+ cryogels was measured as 10(-11) S cm(-1), 10(-10) S cm(-1), 10(-9) S cm(-1), and 10(-8) S cm(-1), respectively. Furthermore, the p(AAc) cryogel and its salt forms were tested as sensor materials for NH3 gas by exposing them to NH3 vapor for 60 min under ambient conditions. Upon exposure to NH3 vapor, it was found that the conductivity of the bare p(AAc) and p(AAc)-K+ cryogels increased by up to 10(5)- and 10(2)-fold, respectively, compared with their NH3 unexposed states. The increase in conductivity for the other salt forms of p(AAc) cryogel was about 60-fold compared with their bare form. The conductivity increase for the p(AAc) and p(AAc)-K+ cryogels was therefore further investigated by changing the NH3 vapor exposure time, revealing that these materials could be used as sensors for NH3. It was further found that a 5 min NH3 gas exposure time was sufficient for p(AAc)-K+ cryogel to generate a detectable response via a change in the conductivity of the matrix.