Chemical, Gas and Optical Sensors Based on Conducting Polymers

Sensing technology has evolved from large systems with immovable components to flexible wearable devices capable of non-invasive and location-independent detection. With the demand for portable systems capable of real-time monitoring and accurate detection at ambient conditions increasing in every sector, there arises a need to transform or replace the conventional sensing elements with superior alternatives. Conducting polymers have unique features of processability and flexibility that make them prime candidates for developing new and advanced wearable devices. They represent a promising class of materials for sensing applications whose true potential is yet to be harnessed for device fabrication. Conducting polymers possess several advantages for use as sensing materials. These include their ability to respond to chemical and gaseous species through a change in their conductance at ambient conditions, large scale production and tunable electrical properties. This chapter focuses on the advances made in the development of conducting polymer-based sensors to detect chemical molecules, gaseous analytes, and optical detection of molecules of interest. The use of hybrid conducting polymer systems incorporating nanomaterials and metal oxides towards sensing pollutants, pharmaceuticals, microbes, volatile gases in the environment and breath, and clinically relevant biomarkers has been discussed in detail. The challenges involved in conducting polymer-based systems and the potential for the evolution of this class of sensors by integrating emerging technologies are also presented.