Comparison of Metal Oxide Nanomaterials: Humidity Sensor Applications

Abstract

Present nano structured materials are showing very interesting properties compared with bulk materials. Due the high surface to volume ratio and quantum confinement effect these nanostructured materials were used in various applications such as electrical, optical, mechanical, metallurgy, computational, photo catalytic activity, batteries, solar cells, different sensors, seed germination, bio medical and drug delivery systems. This present paper was focused on the metal oxide nano materials synthesis and compares the applications of humidity sensor. The ZnO, CuO and TiO₂ metal oxide nano materials were synthesized by microwave-assisted method using room temperature ionic liquid. Zinc acetate, Copper acetate, Titanium tetra isopropoxide and 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium tetrafluoro borate ([bmim]BF₄) room temperature ionic liquid used as initial precursors. From X-ray diffractometer the structures obtained as hexagonal, monoclinic and anatase (hexagonal) for ZnO, CuO and TiO₂ respectively. The average particle sizes were observed in particle size analyser about 22, 35 and 29 nm for ZnO, CuO and TiO₂ respectively. The humidity sensor applications of the ZnO, CuO and TiO₂ nano materials were investigated using controlled humidity chamber, zig setup and digital multimeter.