RELATION BETWEEN AMBIENT HUMIDITY AND IONIC-CONDUCTIVITY OF POLY(THIONAPHTHENEINDOLE) - BEHAVIOR AS AN AMPEROMETRIC HUMIDITY SENSOR

The electrical characteristics of oxidized poly(thionaphtheneindole) w ere investigated as a function of ambient relative humidity (r.h.). Th e current flowing through a pressed pellet of material between two mas sive gold electrodes plotted against voltage gives a wave-shaped curve with a halfwave potential at V = similar to 3 V. The current recorded at 4 V (plateau of the wave) is a sigmoidal function of r.h, with the inflexion point at similar to 60%. An interpretation of these finding s is given, based on the influence of water on the dielectric constant of the material and on acid-base equilibrium between poly(thionaphthe neindole) and water, from which protons are produced. The behaviour of poly (thionaphtheneindole) as the active component of an amperometric humidity sensor is also reported.