To
create printing substrates for colorimetric sensor arrays, chemically
resistant membranes are prepared by coating cellulose filter paper
with perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) polymer nanoparticles. A water-based fluorothermoplastic
polymer dispersion was diluted with an organic solvent that causes
weak aggregation of polymer nanoparticles. The resulting solution
improved adhesion between the polymer and the cellulose membrane,
providing a more mechanically stable substrate. These PFA polymer-coated
substrates demonstrated superior chemical resistance against strong
alkalines and had relatively uniform nanoporous structures that substantially
improved the printability of a colorimetric sensor array. Finally,
colorimetric sensor arrays printed on these substrates were evaluated
for the detection of four different toxic industrial chemicals (e.g.,
ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide) at
or below their permissible exposure limits.