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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Stoneville, Mississippi » Crop Production Systems Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #414308
Research Project: Using Aerial Application and Remote Sensing Technologies for Targeted Spraying of Crop Protection Products

Location: Crop Production Systems Research

Title: Design and Characterization of Printed Flexible Humidity Sensor

Author
item BANOTHU, AKHIL - UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
item BUDHRAJA, VINAY - UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
item SUNDARAVADIVEL, PRABHA - UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS
item FLETCHER, REGINALD
item REDDY, KRISHNA

Submitted to: Journal of the Electrochemical Society
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2024
Publication Date: 5/17/2024
Citation: Banothu, A., Budhraja, V., Sundaravadivel, P., Fletcher, R.S., Reddy, K.N. 2024. Design and Characterization of Printed Flexible Humidity Sensor. Journal of the Electrochemical Society. 113 (13) 27-34 (2024). https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1149/11313.0027ecst.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1149/11313.0027ecst

Interpretive Summary: The emergence of printed electronics plays a fascinating role in the fabrication of humidity sensors due to several key advantages such as cost effectiveness, flexibility and customization, scalability, mass production, integration, miniaturization, rapid prototyping, and iterative design that are essential for applications in the environmental, agriculture, medical, and semiconductor industries. More information is needed on humidity sensors developed from different polymers. Scientists and students at The University of Texas at Tyler, Tyler, Texas, and ARS-Scientists at Stoneville, MS, used advanced printed board circuit printing technology to develop two humidity moisture sensors. The humidity sensors were created using two different polymers: p-HEMA and polyimide, and their performance was compared. Humidity sensors with p-HEMA showed higher capacitance value and more sensitivity than the humidity sensors with polyimide. The variation in sensitivity was higher between the relative humidity from 60% to 90% than between 45% to 60%. The results showed the capability of using printed electronic techniques to fabricate humidity sensors. These inexpensive sensors can be integrated into a robotic arm to perform real-time object characterization in agricultural applications.

Technical Abstract: The development of humidity sensors is essential for applications in the environmental, agriculture, medical and semiconductor industries. This research focused on using advanced printed board circuit (PCB) printing technology to fabricate a humidity moisture sensor. The fabrication of humidity sensor was done using two different polymers: p-HEMA and polyimide, and the performance was compared. Humidity sensors with p-HEMA showed higher capacitance value and more sensitivity than the humidity sensors with polyimide. The variation in sensitivity was higher between the relative humidity from 60% to 90% than between 45% to 60%.