Highly sensitive optical detection of humidity on polymer/metal nanoparticle hybrid films

Porous metal films for optical humidity sensing were prepared from copper nanoparticles protected by a 2-3 nm carbon coating, a silicon tenside, and a polymeric wetting agent. Exposure to water or solvent vapor revealed an exceptional sensitivity with optical shifts in the visible light range of up to 50 nm for a change of 1% in relative humidity. These properties could be attributed to a combination of surface plasmon resonance effects at low humidity and thin film interference at higher water or solvent concentration in the surrounding air. The simple concept and use of ultra-low-cost materials suggests application of such porous metal-film-based optical humidity sensors in large-scale applications for food handling, storage, and transport.