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Nano Research 2024, 17(6): 5578-5586 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-024-6499-3
Research Article | Issue | Published: 07 March 2024

Sensitive humidity sensor based on moisture-driven energy generation

Show Author's Information Qingchao Ni1,  Qing Lou1( ),  Chenglong Shen1,  Guangsong Zheng1,  Runwei Song1,  Jingnan Hao1,  Jialu Liu1,  Jinyang Zhu2( ),  Jinhao Zang1,  Lin Dong1,  Chong-Xin Shan1( )
Henan Key Laboratory of Diamond Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Key Laboratory of Materials Physics, Ministry of Education, and School of Physics and Microelectronics, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
State Centre for International Cooperation on Designer Low-Carbon & Environmental Materials, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
Keywords:
graphitic carbon nitride, humidity sensor, moisture-driven energy generation, respiration monitoring
Topics:
Humidity sensors
Cite this article:
Ni Q, Lou Q, Shen C, et al. Sensitive humidity sensor based on moisture-driven energy generation. Nano Research, 2024, 17(6): 5578-5586. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-024-6499-3
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Abstract Full text Electronic supplementary material About this article

The emergence of novel self-powered humidity sensors has attracted considerable attention in the fields of smart electronic devices and personal healthcare. Herein, self-powered humidity sensors have been fabricated using a moisture-driven energy generation (MEG) device based on asymmetric tubular graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) films prepared on anodized aluminum (AAO) template. At a relative humidity (RH) of 96%, the MEG device can provide an open-circuit voltage of 0.47 V and a short-circuit current of 3.51 μA, with a maximum output power of 0.08 μW. With inherent self-powered ability and humidity response via current variation, an extraordinary response of 1.78 × 106% (41%–96% RH) can be gained from the MEG device. The possible power generation mechanism is that g-CN/AAO heterostructure can form ion gradient and diffusion under the action of moisture to convert chemical potential into electrical potential, evoking a connaturally sensitive response to humidity. Self-powered respiration monitoring device based on the sensor is designed to monitor human movement (sitting, warming up, and running) and sleep status (normal, snoring, and apnea), maintaining excellent stability during cumulative 12-h respiration monitoring. This self-powered humidity sensing technology has promising potential for extensive integration into smart electronic and round-the-clock health monitoring devices.


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Abstract
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Electronic supplementary material
About this article

Sensitive humidity sensor based on moisture-driven energy generation

Show Author's information Qingchao Ni1, Qing Lou1( ), Chenglong Shen1, Guangsong Zheng1, Runwei Song1, Jingnan Hao1, Jialu Liu1, Jinyang Zhu2( ), Jinhao Zang1, Lin Dong1, Chong-Xin Shan1( )
Henan Key Laboratory of Diamond Optoelectronic Materials and Devices, Key Laboratory of Materials Physics, Ministry of Education, and School of Physics and Microelectronics, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
State Centre for International Cooperation on Designer Low-Carbon & Environmental Materials, and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China

Abstract

The emergence of novel self-powered humidity sensors has attracted considerable attention in the fields of smart electronic devices and personal healthcare. Herein, self-powered humidity sensors have been fabricated using a moisture-driven energy generation (MEG) device based on asymmetric tubular graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) films prepared on anodized aluminum (AAO) template. At a relative humidity (RH) of 96%, the MEG device can provide an open-circuit voltage of 0.47 V and a short-circuit current of 3.51 μA, with a maximum output power of 0.08 μW. With inherent self-powered ability and humidity response via current variation, an extraordinary response of 1.78 × 106% (41%–96% RH) can be gained from the MEG device. The possible power generation mechanism is that g-CN/AAO heterostructure can form ion gradient and diffusion under the action of moisture to convert chemical potential into electrical potential, evoking a connaturally sensitive response to humidity. Self-powered respiration monitoring device based on the sensor is designed to monitor human movement (sitting, warming up, and running) and sleep status (normal, snoring, and apnea), maintaining excellent stability during cumulative 12-h respiration monitoring. This self-powered humidity sensing technology has promising potential for extensive integration into smart electronic and round-the-clock health monitoring devices.

Keywords: graphitic carbon nitride, humidity sensor, moisture-driven energy generation, respiration monitoring

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Publication history
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Acknowledgements

Publication history

Received: 28 November 2023
Revised: 08 January 2024
Accepted: 17 January 2024
Published: 07 March 2024
Issue date: June 2024

Copyright

© Tsinghua University Press 2024

Acknowledgements

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the support of this research by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 12261141661, 12074348, U2004168, U21A2070, 62027816, and 12004345) and the Natural Science Foundation of Henan Province (No. 212300410078).

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