Electrical and optical properties of poly(3-alkoxythiophene) and their application for gas sensor

Electrical and optical properties of poly(3-octyloxythiophene) have been studied. Due to relatively higher energy of valence band top originated from the electro-donating characteristics of the alkoxy group, PAOT-8 exhibits stable doped state and stronger interaction with electron accepting molecules such as fullerene, which allows itself to be used as a gas sensor material. The resistance changed reversibly upon exposure to the various organic flavor gases and linear response was observed against gas concentration. Unique doping effects of fullerene were observed in the electrical conducting properties.