Sensors based on conductive polymers and their composites: a review

Conductive polymers (CPs) for sensors present numerous advantages such as high sensitivity, short response time, room temperature operation, and the possibility of tuning both chemical and physical properties by using different substituents. Therefore, sensors based on CPs and their composites have attracted much attention from researchers. The CPs used for sensors mainly consist of polyaniline, polypyrrole and poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) etc. In this review, the fabrication, sensing performance, mechanism and perspectives of sensors based on CPs and their composites are thoroughly summarized. The CPs and their thin films were prepared under different polymerization conditions and used as various sensors. CP composites combine the advantages of CPs and other sensing materials such as carbonaceous materials, metal oxides, metals etc., and their sensors demonstrate a high sensing performance due to the synergistic effect of the components. Finally, the perspectives and development trends of sensors based on CPs and their composites are introduced.