Abstract
Pressure (P), temperature (T), and humidity (H) are physical key parameters of great relevance for various applications such as in distributed diagnostics, robotics, electronic skins, functional clothing, and many other Internet‐of‐Things (IoT) solutions. Previous studies on monitoring and recording these three parameters have focused on the integration of three individual single‐parameter sensors into an electronic circuit, also comprising dedicated sense amplifiers, signal processing, and communication interfaces. To limit complexity in, e.g., multifunctional IoT systems, and thus reducing the manufacturing costs of such sensing/communication outposts, it is desirable to achieve one single‐sensor device that simultaneously or consecutively measures P–T–H without cross‐talks in the sensing functionality. Herein, a novel organic mixed ion–electron conducting aerogel is reported, which can sense P–T–H with minimal cross‐talk between the measured parameters. The exclusive read‐out of the three individual parameters is performed electronically in one single device configuration and is enabled by the use of a novel strategy that combines electronic and ionic Seebeck effect along with mixed ion–electron conduction in an elastic aerogel. The findings promise for multipurpose IoT technology with reduced complexity and production costs, features that are highly anticipated in distributed diagnostics, monitoring, safety, and security applications.
Highlights
A first and significant approach to multiparameter sensing is to create sensor arrays.[10,11] Such arrays usually combinePressure, temperature, and humidity (P–T–H) are crucial phys- several single-function sensors, which are based on different ical parameters that, to an extent, describe our environment. sensing materials included in a variety of dedicated transducer structures
The material used in this work is prepared by freeze drying a water dispersion including four organic components (Figure 1a): the electrically conducting polymer PEDOT provides the electronic thermovoltage, the ionic conducting polymer PSS provides the ionic thermovoltage peak, the mechanically strong nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) forms the mechanical structure of the aerogel, and the crosslinking agent glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GOPS)[17] introduces elasticity to the aerogel
PEDOT:PSS is an example of polymeric mixed ionic–electronic conductors (MIECs)[36] where both electrons and ions have been reported to thermodiffuse efficiently.[29]
Summary
A first and significant approach to multiparameter sensing is to create sensor arrays.[10,11] Such arrays usually combine. The challenges and limitations of the first and second approaches described above can be overcome by creating multiparameter sensors with a single multifunctional material that transforms each stimulus into different recordable signals[15] or into one output signal with different “orthogonal” and independent features that can be separately resolved by sense amplification circuits. This third approach combines the advantages of the two strategies; absence of cross-talk and simple fabrication thanks to a single device approach. The material used in this work is prepared by freeze drying a water dispersion including four organic components (Figure 1a): the electrically conducting polymer PEDOT provides the electronic thermovoltage, the ionic conducting polymer PSS provides the ionic thermovoltage peak, the mechanically strong nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) forms the mechanical structure of the aerogel, and the crosslinking agent glycidoxypropyl trimethoxysilane (GOPS)[17] introduces elasticity to the aerogel
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