A Facile and Flexible Humidity Sensor Based on Porous PDMS/AgNWs and GO for Environmental Humidity and Respiratory Detection
Yanming Ma, Xinqiang Hu, Shunbo Li, Ye He, Zengzilu Xia, Kaiyong Cai
Abstract
Abstract Humidity sensors, benefit from their superior humidity‐sensitive components, are able to respond to the environment moisture changes. Based on this feature, the humidity sensor plays an increasingly vital role in biological detection. To improve the performance of humidity sensors, a large number of optimizations have been made from several aspects, such as material synthesis and structural design. In this study, a novel humidity sensor is designed to increase its specific surface area to carry more humidity‐sensitive and conductive materials. A porous polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate is prepared in an economical friendly approach by using the thermal decomposition of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO 3 ). Meanwhile, high‐quality nano silvers (AgNWs) are applied as the intermediate conductive layer connecting the substrate and detective layer. graphene oxide (GO) is used as the humidity sensitive material in the sensor. It is remarkable that this sensor can detect the humidity with a wide range of 8.6 RH% to 93 RH% in a quick response with high sensitivity. Since this humidity sensor showed powerful functions, such as monitoring respiration and detecting environmental humidity, it will have broad potentials for real‐time clinical and domestic healthcare.