Designing and development of polyvinylpyrrolidone-tungsten trioxide (PVP-WO3) nanocomposite conducting film for highly sensitive, stable, and room temperature humidity sensing

• Published in: Materials science in semiconductor processing Vol. 134; p. 106053
• Main Authors: Khan, Hizb Ullah, Tariq, Muhammad, Shah, Mutabar, Ullah, Sajid, Ahsan, Abdul Razaq, Rahim, Abdur, Iqbal, Jibran, Pasricha, Renu, Ismail, Issam
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2021
• Subjects: Capacitance; Humidity sensor; Polyvinylpyrrolidone; Tungsten trioxide; Humidity sensor; Capacitance; Polyvinylpyrrolidone; Tungsten trioxide
• ISSN: 1369-8001; 1873-4081
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mssp.2021.106053

In the present research work, highly sensitive, stable, capacitive type humidity sensor based on polyvinylpyrrolidone and tungsten trioxide (PVP/WO3) nanocomposite was successfully developed. The sensing materials were prepared by using simple ultrasonication method and were characterized systematically through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, high resolution transmission electron microscopy. Drop casting technique was used to develop sensing device using interdigitated copper electrode. Humidity sensing properties of PVP/WO3 nanocomposite sensors were investigated thoroughly and compared with pure PVP and WO3 sensors. It was observed that the humidity sensor with 20 wt% WO3 content showed high response of 44.73 nF/%RH, short response (10 s) and recovery time (15 s) as compared to pristine PVP and WO3 sensor. Low hysteresis value of 1.3 % was observed for PVP/WO3 20 wt% nanocomposite sensor along with excellent stability and repeatability.