Cuprous Oxide Nanoparticles: Synthesis, Characterization, and Their Application for Enhancing the Humidity-Sensing...

In this paper, we report on the synthesis-via the wet chemical precipitation route method-and thin film characteristics of inorganic semiconductor, cuprous oxide (Cu₂O) nanoparticles, for their potential application in enhancing the humidity-sensing properties of semiconducting polymer poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (F8). For morphological analysis of the synthesized Cu₂O nanoparticles, transmission electron microscope (TEM) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) micrographs are studied to investigate the texture, distribution, shape, and sizes of Cu₂O crystallites. The TEM image of the Cu₂O nanoparticles exhibits somewhat non-uniform distribution with almost uniform shape and size having an average particle size of ≈24 ± 2 nm. Fourier transformed infrared (FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) spectra are studied to validate the formation of Cu₂O nanoparticles. Additionally, atomic force microscopy (AFM) is performed to analyze the surface morphology of polymer-inorganic (F8-Cu₂O) nanocomposites thin film to see the grain sizes, mosaics, and average surface roughness. In order to study the enhancement in sensing properties of F8, a hybrid organic-inorganic (F8-Cu₂O) surface-type humidity sensor Ag/F8-Cu₂O/Ag is fabricated by employing F8 polymer as an active matrix layer and Cu₂O nanoparticles as a dopant. The Ag/F8-Cu₂O/Ag device is prepared by spin coating a 10:1 wt% solution of F8-Cu₂O nanocomposite on pre-patterned silver (Ag) electrodes on glass. The inter-electrode gap (≈5 μm) between Ag is developed by photolithography. To study humidity sensing, the Ag/F8-Cu₂O/Ag device is characterized by measuring its capacitance (C) as a function of relative humidity (%RH) at two different frequencies (120 Hz and 1 kHz). The device exhibits a broad humidity sensing range (27-86%RH) with shorter response time and recovery time, i.e., 9 s and 8 s, respectively. The present results show significant enhancement in the humidity-sensing properties as compared to our previously reported results of Ag/F8/Ag sensor wherein the humidity sensing range was 45-78%RH with 15 s and 7 s response and recovery times, respectively. The improvement in the humidity-sensing properties is attributed to the potential use of Cu₂O nanoparticles, which change the hydrophobicity, surface to volume ratio of Cu₂O nanoparticles, as well as modification in electron polarizability and polarity of the F8 matrix layer.