Issue 1, 2023

Humidity sensors based on molecular rectifiers

Abstract

Ambient humidity plays a key role in the health and well-being of us and our surroundings, making it necessary to carefully monitor and control it. To achieve this goal, several types of instruments based on various materials and operating principles have been developed. Reducing the production costs for such systems without affecting their sensitivity and reliability would allow for broader use and greater efficiency. Organic materials are prime candidates for incorporation in humidity sensors given their extraordinary chemical diversity, low cost, and ease of processing. Here, we designed, assembled and tested humidity sensors based on molecular rectifiers that can electrically transduce the changes in the ambient humidity to offer accurate quantitative information in the range of 0 to 70% relative humidity. Their operation relies on the changes occurring in the electric field experienced by the molecular layer upon absorption of the polar water molecules, resulting in modifications in the height and shape of the tunneling barrier. The response is reversible and reproducible upon multiple cycles and, coupled with the simplicity of the device architecture and manufacturing, makes these nanoscale sensors attractive for incorporation in various applications.

Graphical abstract: Humidity sensors based on molecular rectifiers

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
16 Aug 2022
Accepted
02 Dez 2022
First published
05 Dez 2022

Nanoscale, 2023,15, 171-176

Author version available

Humidity sensors based on molecular rectifiers

R. P. Sullivan, E. Castellanos-Trejo, R. Ma, M. E. Welker and O. D. Jurchescu, Nanoscale, 2023, 15, 171 DOI: 10.1039/D2NR04498F

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements