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Nanostructured Ag-zeolite Composites as Luminescence-based Humidity Sensors
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Fast Optical Humidity Sensor Based on Hydrogel Thin Film Expansion for Harsh Environment
Anton Buchberger1, Sebastian Peterka2, Anna Maria Coclite3
1Institute of Electronic Sensor Systems, Graz University of Technology, 8010 Graz, Austria. anton.buchberger@tugraz.at.
Sensors (Basel, Switzerland)
|March 1, 2019
Summary
Responsive hydrogel thin films were created using initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD). These films show rapid and reproducible humidity sensing, making them ideal for harsh environments.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
- Sensor Technology
Background:
- Responsive hydrogels offer potential for humidity sensing applications.
- Existing sensors may not be suitable for harsh environments due to electrical components.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize responsive hydrogel thin films for humidity sensing.
- To evaluate the performance of these films in harsh environments.
Main Methods:
- Utilized initiated chemical vapor deposition (iCVD) to create hydrogel thin films.
- Employed interferometric measurements with laser and broadband light sources to determine thickness changes.
- Applied Flory-Huggins theory to model humidity-dependent thickness variations.
Main Results:
- Achieved reproducible relative humidity (RH) measurements.
- Demonstrated a response time (τ63) of ≤ 2.5 seconds, significantly faster than commercial sensors.
- Hydrogel films exhibited considerable thickness changes in response to humidity.
Conclusions:
- iCVD-fabricated hydrogel films are effective humidity sensors.
- The sensor design is suitable for harsh environments due to the absence of electrical components.
- The developed hydrogel sensors offer superior speed and reproducibility for humidity detection.
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