Flexible Humidity Sensors Based on Multidimensional Titanium Dioxide/Cellulose Nanocrystals Composite Film

Xin Tong; Hong Wang; Huiyang Ding; Jing Li; Huifang Zhao; Zhaoyun Lin; Hongxia Xi; Xuejin Zhang

doi:10.3390/nano12121970

Nanomaterials (Jun 2022)

Flexible Humidity Sensors Based on Multidimensional Titanium Dioxide/Cellulose Nanocrystals Composite Film

Xin Tong,
Hong Wang,
Huiyang Ding,
Jing Li,
Huifang Zhao,
Zhaoyun Lin,
Hongxia Xi,
Xuejin Zhang

Affiliations

Xin Tong: Key Laboratory of Recycling and Eco-Treatment of Waste Biomass of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
Hong Wang: Key Laboratory of Recycling and Eco-Treatment of Waste Biomass of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
Huiyang Ding: Key Laboratory of Recycling and Eco-Treatment of Waste Biomass of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
Jing Li: Key Laboratory of Recycling and Eco-Treatment of Waste Biomass of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
Huifang Zhao: Key Laboratory of Recycling and Eco-Treatment of Waste Biomass of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China
Zhaoyun Lin: Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper Science & Technology of Ministry of Education, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan 250353, China
Hongxia Xi: School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China
Xuejin Zhang: Key Laboratory of Recycling and Eco-Treatment of Waste Biomass of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang University of Science and Technology, Hangzhou 310023, China

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12121970
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 12, no. 12
p. 1970

Abstract

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A humidity sensor is a crucial device in daily life; therefore, in the present study, a novel humidity sensor was designed to increase its specific surface area to improve its humid sensing capacity and conductivity. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiNP) consisting of zero-dimensional nanospheres and one-dimensional nanotubes were prepared by anodic oxidation. Rod-shaped cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) with average length and diameter of 60 nm and 800 nm, respectively, were obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis and high pressure homogenization. TiNP/CNC composite films exhibited superior hydrophilicity and large specific surface areas based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nitrogen adsorption–desorption results. The humidity sensing characteristics of sensors based on TiNP/CNC flexible composite films with varying contents of TiNP were investigated under a relative humidity range of 11–97%. The 6% TiNP/CNC-based humidity sensor exhibited high humidity response, rapid response/recovery speed, and high stability. Furthermore, the humidity sensing mechanism of TiNP/CNC composite films was analyzed based on the density functional theory. TiNP/CNC-based humidity sensors could be applied in flexible and wearable electronics.

Published in Nanomaterials

ISSN: 2079-4991 (Online)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Country of publisher: Switzerland
LCC subjects: Science: Chemistry
Website: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/nanomaterials

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