Abstract
One-dimensional SnO2- and Li+-doped SnO2 porous nanofibers were easily fabricated via electrospinning and a subsequent calcination procedure for ultrafast humidity sensing. Different Li dopant concentrations were introduced to investigate the dopant’s role in sensing performance. The response properties were studied under different relative humidity levels by both statistic and dynamic tests. The best response was obtained with respect to the optimal doping of Li+ into SnO2 porous nanofibers with a maximum 15 times higher response than that of pristine SnO2 porous nanofibers, at a relative humidity level of 85%. Most importantly, the ultrafast response and recovery time within 1 s was also obtained with the 1.0 wt % doping of Li+ into SnO2 porous nanofibers at 5 V and at room temperature, benefiting from the co-contributions of Li-doping and the one-dimensional porous structure. This work provides an effective method of developing ultrafast sensors for practical applications—especially fast breathing sensors.
Highlights
Humidity sensors are of great importance in many fields, including environmental monitoring, industrial production, agricultural planting, aviation, and medical and chemical monitoring [1,2,3].Until now, various transduction techniques have been used to develop humidity sensors, such as capacitance [4], impedance [5], optical fiber [6,7], and surface acoustic wave (SAW) [8]
The response of SnO2 -based humidity sensors depends upon reactions between water molecules and SnO2 surfaces, which have stimulated the interest of researchers in tailoring the microstructure and Materials 2017, 10, 535; doi:10.3390/ma10050535
In order to achieve the ultrafast humidity sensors, we provided a combined strategy of structured construction and doping
Summary
Humidity sensors are of great importance in many fields, including environmental monitoring, industrial production, agricultural planting, aviation, and medical and chemical monitoring [1,2,3]. Nanostructured metal oxides are ideal materials for the fabrication of humidity sensors because of the ability to tailor their surface and charge-transport properties, as well as their chemical and physical stability and high mechanical strength [9,10,11]. The SnO2 nanowire networks made from 1-D nanostructures were synthesized by a simple and versatile flame transport synthesis approach, exhibiting promising sensing performances [14]. Another approach for enhancing the sensing properties of SnO2 lies in its modification with metal nanoparticles, such as Ag, Fe, and Cu [20,21,22]. We offer here an effective approach toward an understanding, and the design, of SnO2 -based humidity sensing materials
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