Ion beam engineering in WO₃-PEDOT: PSS hybrid nanocomposite thin films for gas sensing measurement at room temperature

This work focus upon influence of low energy ion beam irradiation on the physico-chemical, structural and optical properties of (Glass/WO₃-PEDOT: PSS) hybrid thin films. The hybrid nanocomposites were synthesized by uniform dispersion of 1 wt% and 5 wt% WO₃ nanoparticles in PEDOT: PSS conducting polymer solution. The hybrid films were irradiated with low energy Ar⁴⁺ (700 keV) beam at fluence 1 × 10¹⁵ ions.cm⁻² and 1 × 10¹⁶ ions.cm⁻² in IUAC, New Delhi, India. The particle size was determined to be 63 nm–33 nm (1 wt% hybrid film) and 62–61 nm (5 wt% hybrid film) using Scherer's formula. The band gap for pristine and irradiated films of 1 wt% (2.34–2.18 eV) and 5 wt% (2.39–2.14 eV) were calculated from Tauc's relation. FTIR and Raman spectroscopy analysis confirmed the formation of chemical bonds and carbonization of film at higher fluences. The change in properties of hybrid nanocomposite material by ion irradiation may be useful for sensing applications. The sensor response of pristine and irradiated hybrid composite films was studied from liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at room temperature.