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A resistive type humidity sensor based on crystalline tin oxide nanoparticles encapsulated in polyaniline matrix

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Abstract

We have synthesized a nanocomposite consisting of crystalline tin oxide (SnO2) nanoparticles and polyaniline (PANI) by in-situ polymerization and composite formation (IPCF). The structure and morphology was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The nanocomposite is shown to represent a viable material for electrical resistivity based sensing of humidity in the 5 to 90 % relative humidity (RH) range. The electrical resistance of the composite linearly decreases from 127.5 to 11.5 kΩ with humidity from 5 to 95 %. The sensitivity is 0.22 % RH‾1, the response time is 26 s, and the recovery time is 30 s. The fabrication of SnO2/PANI composite combines the high sensitivity of SnO2 towards moisture with good electrical conductivity of PANI, which influences the electronic properties of the material and enables the design of more efficient humidity sensors. The water vapor layering growth kinetics on the composite was investigated by isothermal thermogravimetric analysis and an interaction with limited diffusion aggregate type kinetics has been proposed.

A facile, single step, synthesis method (i.e., in-situ polymerization and composite formation) has been used for the preparation of a tin oxide and polyaniline, a metallo-macromolecule complex that has been shown as an effective interface towards humidity sensing.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge the University Grant Commission (MRP. 8-3(47)/2011), New Delhi for generous financial support to carry out this work. SKS and ESA also acknowledge financial support from Global Excellence and Stature (GES) fellowship from the University of Johannesburg. Authors are thankful to the reviewers for their constructive comments to improve the quality of manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Polymer Science, Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 190075, India

    Saroj K. Shukla

  2. Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein 2028, Johannesburg, South Africa

    Sudheesh K. Shukla, Penny P. Govender & Eric S. Agorku

Authors
  1. Saroj K. Shukla
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  2. Sudheesh K. Shukla
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  3. Penny P. Govender
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  4. Eric S. Agorku
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Correspondence to Saroj K. Shukla or Sudheesh K. Shukla.

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Shukla, S.K., Shukla, S.K., Govender, P.P. et al. A resistive type humidity sensor based on crystalline tin oxide nanoparticles encapsulated in polyaniline matrix. Microchim Acta 183, 573–580 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-015-1678-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-015-1678-2

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