Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds by a Novel Polymer Spin-Coated Thin Film and Surface Plasmon Resonance

Here is reported the synthesis, characterization, and volatile organic compound (VOCs) sensing of a 1, 3-dimethyl polyphenylene vinylene polymer. The synthesis was performed by a Witting condensation through the reaction of 1, 4-terphthaldehyde with the phosphonium chloride of meta-xylene. The material was characterized by infrared spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and thermogravimetric analyses. Thin films of the polymer were prepared by spin coating at speeds from 1000 to 5000 rpm. Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and surface plasmon resonance were used to characterize the spin coated films. The thicknesses of the films were estimated by fitting the curves and were between 4.5 to 24.5 nm depending on the speed. The refractive index of the new polymer was 1.72. The polymer spin coated films were exposed to volatile organic vapors in order to characterize their sensing properties by surface plasmon resonance as a function of time. The results showed that the new material responded rapidly, sensitively, and reversibly to volatile organic compounds.