INVESTIGATION OF AN INTERCALATION REACTION WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR CHEMICAL SENSOR SCIENCE

The intercalation chemistry of Mn2P2S6 is investigated with respect to characteristics important for chemical sensors. Questions such as kin etics, sensitivity, and reversibility are addressed. Ammonia gas is ch osen as the analyte for simplicity. Both large single crystals and pre ssed powdered pellets of Mn2P2S6 are used. The rapid change in the phy sical properties of the Mn2P2S6 host lattice upon intercalation with a mmonia suggests that this type of insertion chemistry is a fruitful ar ea for further study with respect to chemical sensor science.