An Improved Humidity Sensor with GO-Mn-Doped ZnO Nanocomposite and Dimensional Orchestration of Comb Electrode for Effective Bulk Manufacturing
The measurement and control of humidity is a major challenge that affects the sensing properties of sensors used in high-precision equipment manufacturing industries. Graphene Oxide(GO)-based materials have been extensively explored in humidity sensing applications because of their high surface area...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/10/1659 |
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| author | Balashanmugam Priyadharshini Prasad Valsalal |
| author_facet | Balashanmugam Priyadharshini Prasad Valsalal |
| author_sort | Balashanmugam Priyadharshini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The measurement and control of humidity is a major challenge that affects the sensing properties of sensors used in high-precision equipment manufacturing industries. Graphene Oxide(GO)-based materials have been extensively explored in humidity sensing applications because of their high surface area and functional groups. However, there is a lack of effective bulk-manufacturing processes for the synthesis of 2D-based nanocomposites with comb electrodes. Moreover, water intercalation within the layers of 2D materials increases recovery time. This work demonstrates the enhanced sensing characteristics of a capacitive/resistive GO-MnZnO nanocomposite humidity sensor produced using a cost-effective single-pot synthesis process. The in-plane sensing layer consistently improves sensitivity and reduces response time for a wide range of relative humidity measurements (10% to 90%). Interdigitated gold electrodes with varying numbers of fingers and spacing were fabricated using photolithography on a Si/SiO₂ for a consistent sensor device platform. The choice of nanomaterials, dimension of the sensor, and fabrication method influence the performance of the humidity sensor in a controlled environment. GO nanocomposites show significant improvement in response time (82.67 times greater at 40% RH) and sensitivity (95.7 times more at 60% RH). The response time of 4.5 s and recovery time of 21 s was significantly better for a wider range of relative humidity compared to the reduced GO-sensing layer and ZnMnO. An optimized 6 mm × 3 mm dimension sensor with a 28-fingers comb was fabricated with a metal-etching process. This is one of the most effective methods for bulk manufacturing. The performance of the sensing layer is comparable to established sensing nanomaterials that are currently used in humidity sensors, and hence can be extended for optimal bulk manufacturing with minimum electrochemical treatments. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:16:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3118e97ec7854b6e83eca76a2d412b47 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T03:16:56Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-3118e97ec7854b6e83eca76a2d412b472023-11-23T12:26:11ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912022-05-011210165910.3390/nano12101659An Improved Humidity Sensor with GO-Mn-Doped ZnO Nanocomposite and Dimensional Orchestration of Comb Electrode for Effective Bulk ManufacturingBalashanmugam Priyadharshini0Prasad Valsalal1Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, CEG Campus, Anna University, Chennai 600025, Tamil Nadu, IndiaDepartment of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, CEG Campus, Anna University, Chennai 600025, Tamil Nadu, IndiaThe measurement and control of humidity is a major challenge that affects the sensing properties of sensors used in high-precision equipment manufacturing industries. Graphene Oxide(GO)-based materials have been extensively explored in humidity sensing applications because of their high surface area and functional groups. However, there is a lack of effective bulk-manufacturing processes for the synthesis of 2D-based nanocomposites with comb electrodes. Moreover, water intercalation within the layers of 2D materials increases recovery time. This work demonstrates the enhanced sensing characteristics of a capacitive/resistive GO-MnZnO nanocomposite humidity sensor produced using a cost-effective single-pot synthesis process. The in-plane sensing layer consistently improves sensitivity and reduces response time for a wide range of relative humidity measurements (10% to 90%). Interdigitated gold electrodes with varying numbers of fingers and spacing were fabricated using photolithography on a Si/SiO₂ for a consistent sensor device platform. The choice of nanomaterials, dimension of the sensor, and fabrication method influence the performance of the humidity sensor in a controlled environment. GO nanocomposites show significant improvement in response time (82.67 times greater at 40% RH) and sensitivity (95.7 times more at 60% RH). The response time of 4.5 s and recovery time of 21 s was significantly better for a wider range of relative humidity compared to the reduced GO-sensing layer and ZnMnO. An optimized 6 mm × 3 mm dimension sensor with a 28-fingers comb was fabricated with a metal-etching process. This is one of the most effective methods for bulk manufacturing. The performance of the sensing layer is comparable to established sensing nanomaterials that are currently used in humidity sensors, and hence can be extended for optimal bulk manufacturing with minimum electrochemical treatments.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/10/1659GO nanocompositein-plane humidity sensingmetal-etchingwater intercalation |
| spellingShingle | Balashanmugam Priyadharshini Prasad Valsalal An Improved Humidity Sensor with GO-Mn-Doped ZnO Nanocomposite and Dimensional Orchestration of Comb Electrode for Effective Bulk Manufacturing Nanomaterials GO nanocomposite in-plane humidity sensing metal-etching water intercalation |
| title | An Improved Humidity Sensor with GO-Mn-Doped ZnO Nanocomposite and Dimensional Orchestration of Comb Electrode for Effective Bulk Manufacturing |
| title_full | An Improved Humidity Sensor with GO-Mn-Doped ZnO Nanocomposite and Dimensional Orchestration of Comb Electrode for Effective Bulk Manufacturing |
| title_fullStr | An Improved Humidity Sensor with GO-Mn-Doped ZnO Nanocomposite and Dimensional Orchestration of Comb Electrode for Effective Bulk Manufacturing |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Improved Humidity Sensor with GO-Mn-Doped ZnO Nanocomposite and Dimensional Orchestration of Comb Electrode for Effective Bulk Manufacturing |
| title_short | An Improved Humidity Sensor with GO-Mn-Doped ZnO Nanocomposite and Dimensional Orchestration of Comb Electrode for Effective Bulk Manufacturing |
| title_sort | improved humidity sensor with go mn doped zno nanocomposite and dimensional orchestration of comb electrode for effective bulk manufacturing |
| topic | GO nanocomposite in-plane humidity sensing metal-etching water intercalation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/12/10/1659 |
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