Flexible and Transparent Polymer-Based Optical Humidity Sensor

Atomic layer deposition paves the way for next-generation smart and functional textiles

As technology evolves and consumer needs diversify, textiles have become crucial to determining the future of fashion, sustainability, and functionality. Functional textiles, which not only provide comfort and aesthetics as traditional textiles but also endow textiles with special functions such as antibacterial, anti-odor, moisture absorption and perspiration, anti-ultraviolet (UV), flame-retardant, self-cleaning, and anti-static properties through technological innovation and upgrading, have attracted increasing attention because they satisfy the specific needs of people in different environments and occasions. However, functionality often occurs at the expense of comfort in existing functional products. Endowing textiles with excellent multi-functionality with marginal effects on comfort and wearability properties continues to be a challenge. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) paves the way for creating functional fabrics by enabling the formation of highly conforming inorganic/organic coatings over a large area with precise atomic-level film thickness control from a self-limiting reaction mechanism. Therefore, this paper introduces the reaction mechanism of ALD and the unique advantages of depositing inorganic nanofilms on fiber and textile surfaces. The factors influencing ALD and the commonly used ALD-derived technologies are then discussed. Subsequently, the research progress and breakthroughs in inorganic nanofilms prepared by ALD in conferring multifunctional properties on textile surfaces, such as antimicrobial, UV-resistant, heat-insulating, multifunctional wetting, structural coloring, thermoelectric elements, and flexible sensing, are reviewed. Finally, future developments and possible challenges of ALD for the large-scale production of multifunctional fabrics are proposed, which are expected to promote the development of next-generation advanced functional textiles.

Advances in Humidity Nanosensors and Their Application: Review

As the technology revolution and industrialization have flourished in the last few decades, the development of humidity nanosensors has become more important for the detection and control of humidity in the industry production line, food preservation, chemistry, agriculture and environmental monitoring. The new nanostructured materials and fabrication in nanosensors are linked to better sensor performance, especially for superior humidity sensing, following the intensive research into the design and synthesis of nanomaterials in the last few years. Various nanomaterials, such as ceramics, polymers, semiconductor and sulfide, carbon-based, triboelectrical nanogenerator (TENG), and MXene, have been studied for their potential ability to sense humidity with structures of nanowires, nanotubes, nanopores, and monolayers. These nanosensors have been synthesized via a wide range of processes, including solution synthesis, anodization, physical vapor deposition (PVD), or chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The sensing mechanism, process improvement and nanostructure modulation of different types of materials are mostly inexhaustible, but they are all inseparable from the goals of the effective response, high sensitivity and low response-recovery time of humidity sensors. In this review, we focus on the sensing mechanism of direct and indirect sensing, various fabrication methods, nanomaterial geometry and recent advances in humidity nanosensors. Various types of capacitive, resistive and optical humidity nanosensors are introduced, alongside illustration of the properties and nanostructures of various materials. The similarities and differences of the humidity-sensitive mechanisms of different types of materials are summarized. Applications such as IoT, and the environmental and human-body monitoring of nanosensors are the development trends for futures advancements.

Highly Sensitive and Ultra-Responsive Humidity Sensors Based on Graphene Oxide Active Layers and High Surface Area Laser-Induced Graphene Electrodes

Ultra-sensitive and responsive humidity sensors were fabricated by deposition of graphene oxide (GO) on laser-induced graphene (LIG) electrodes fabricated by a low-cost visible laser scribing tool. The effects of GO layer thickness and electrode geometry were investigated. Sensors comprising 0.33 mg/mL GO drop-deposited on spiral LIG electrodes exhibited high sensitivity up to 1800 pF/% RH at 22 °C, which is higher than previously reported LIG/GO sensors. The high performance was ascribed to the high density of the hydroxyl groups of GO, promoted by post-synthesis sonication treatment, resulting in high water physisorption rates. As a result, the sensors also displayed good stability and short response/recovery times across a wide tested range of 0–97% RH. The fabricated sensors were benchmarked against commercial humidity sensors and displayed comparable performance and stability. Finally, the sensors were integrated with a near-field communication tag to function as a wireless, battery-less humidity sensor platform for easy read-out of environmental humidity values using smartphones.

Review of Optical Humidity Sensors

Optical humidity sensors have evolved through decades of research and development, constantly adapting to new demands and challenges. The continuous growth is supported by the emergence of a variety of optical fibers and functional materials, in addition to the adaptation of different sensing mechanisms and optical techniques. This review attempts to cover the majority of optical humidity sensors reported to date, highlight trends in design and performance, and discuss the challenges of different applications.