TaS2 nanosheet-based ultrafast response and flexible humidity sensor for multifunctional applications†
Abstract
TaS2 has great potential in humidity sensing applications due to it having much diverse morphology among the transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs). However, there are few reports on the application of TaS2 in humidity sensitive applications. Herein, TaS2 nanosheets are employed to fabricate a humidity sensor based on various flexible substrates. The humidity sensor shows great humidity sensing performance with a wide relative humidity detection range, ultrafast response/recovery time, high sensitivity, high precision, and great reversibility and stability. Two completely different strategies have been adopted to enhance the humidity sensitivity of the TaS2 nanomaterials purposefully. The great humidity sensing performance is considered to benefit from a high surface/volume ratio and large exposed specific surface area. Meanwhile, the ultrafast response/recovery time is due to the hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity of the substrate and TaS2 sensing film, respectively. The flexible humidity sensors we manufactured also show outstanding performance in various applications such as noncontact sensation, real-time monitoring of the moisture levels in human skin, and the monitoring of respiration. Our research might provide a very promising candidate material for humidity sensing and the flexible humidity sensors we manufactured could be great potential candidates for the efficient detection of humidity levels.