Humidity Sensing Behaviour of Niobium Oxide: Primitive Study

Abstract

This paper reports the characterization and humidity sensing properties of niobium oxide. For this purpose, pellet of NbO has been made by using hydraulic-pressing machine (KBR Press, Germany) at pressure 30 MPa. This pellet is used as sensing element and thermally annealed at different temperatures 200, 400 and 600°C successively. After each time of annealing this sensing element has been put within a specially designed conductivity holder and exposed to humidity inside a controlled humidity chamber. Variations in resistivity with relative humidity have been observed. Sensitivity of sensor has been calculated at different temperatures. Characterization of sensing material has been done. Effect of temperatures on characterization has also been studied. During thermal annealing it is found that weight loss of sensing material occurs. Sensor is suitable for entire range of RH.

Keywords

• Humidity sensor
• Ceramic
• Sensitivity and resistivity