High‐Performance, Flexible NO(2) Chemiresistors Achieved by Design of Imine‐Incorporated n‐Type Conjugated Polymers

Flexible and mechanically robust gas sensors are the key technologies for wearable and implantable electronics. Herein, the authors demonstrate the high‐performance, flexible nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) chemiresistors using a series of n‐type conjugated polymers (CPs: PNDIT2/IM‐x) and a polymer dopant (poly(ethyleneimine), PEI). Imine double bonds (C = N) are incorporated into the backbones of the CPs with different imine contents (x) to facilitate strong and selective interactions with NO(2). The PEI provides doping stability, enhanced electrical conductivity, and flexibility. As a result, the NO(2) sensors with PNDIT2/IM‐0.1 and PEI (1:1 by weight ratio) exhibit outstanding sensing performances, such as excellent sensitivity (ΔR/R (b) = 240% @ 1 ppm), ultralow detection limit (0.1 ppm), high selectivity (ΔR/R (b) < 8% @ 1 ppm of interfering analytes), and high stability, thereby outperforming other state‐of‐the‐art CP‐based chemiresistors. Furthermore, the thin film of PNDIT2/IM‐0.1 and PEI blend is stretchable and mechanically robust, providing excellent flexibility to the NO(2) sensors. Our study contributes to the rational design of high‐performance flexible gas sensors.