Humidity Sensing Properties of Paper Substrates and Their Passivation with ZnO Nanoparticles for Sensor Applications

In this paper, we investigated the effect of humidity on paper substrates and propose a simple and low-cost method for their passivation using ZnO nanoparticles. To this end, we built paper-based microdevices based on an interdigitated electrode (IDE) configuration by means of a mask-less laser patt...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Georgios Niarchos, Georges Dubourg, Georgios Afroudakis, Markos Georgopoulos, Vasiliki Tsouti, Eleni Makarona, Vesna Crnojevic-Bengin, Christos Tsamis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2017-03-01
Series:Sensors
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/17/3/516
Description
Summary:In this paper, we investigated the effect of humidity on paper substrates and propose a simple and low-cost method for their passivation using ZnO nanoparticles. To this end, we built paper-based microdevices based on an interdigitated electrode (IDE) configuration by means of a mask-less laser patterning method on simple commercial printing papers. Initial resistive measurements indicate that a paper substrate with a porous surface can be used as a cost-effective, sensitive and disposable humidity sensor in the 20% to 70% relative humidity (RH) range. Successive spin-coated layers of ZnO nanoparticles then, control the effect of humidity. Using this approach, the sensors become passive to relative humidity changes, paving the way to the development of ZnO-based gas sensors on paper substrates insensitive to humidity.
ISSN:1424-8220