Organic and inorganic gas sensors with enhanced sensing capabilities that operate concurrently at room temperature (RT) are significantly more appealing due to their decreased power usage and high long-term stability and security. Polyaniline (viz., PANI) is a common conductive polymer that has garnered attention for its inexpensive monomers, straightforward synthesis, simple conductivity control, and high stability. The challenges with PANI, however, have always been its low mechanical strength and chemical stability. ZnO/PANI nanocomposites have emerged as a primary material for room-temperature, low-power gas sensing due to their synergistic electronic properties and high stability. The inclusion of inorganic ZnO nanoparticles improves these properties while increasing the active surface area for gas exposure. As a result, the polymer and the inorganic ingredient will work together to enhance certain properties of the final composite This review examines the structural and performance advantages of ZnO/PANI hybrids, focusing on how surface morphology—ranging from 1D nanostructures to hierarchical sheets—impacts gas interaction and charge carrier transport. The resultant nanocomposite is more stable and has a higher active surface area for sensing activity when ZnO is combined with a conducting polymer like PANI. Key sensing parameters, including responsiveness, selectivity, and recovery, are analyzed alongside modern enhancement techniques like UV-light activation. By synthesizing recent research, this paper identifies critical strategies for optimizing surface-to-volume ratios and interfacial interactions to achieve superior detection of organic and inorganic vapors at ambient temperatures
Tuama et al. (Fri,) studied this question.