Nanodiamond/cellulose nanocrystals composite-based acoustic humidity sensor

This paper fabricated a high-performance nanodiamond (ND)/cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) composite-based acoustic humidity sensor. First, the effects of changes in both mass and viscosity of humidity-sensitive films on the resonance displacement, vibration modes, and impedance characteristics of the quartz crystal micro -balance (QCM) were discussed using the finite element simulation software COMSOL Multiphysics. Then, the surface morphology and elemental composition of ND/CNC composites were characterized by TEM and EDS. Next, the humidity-sensing properties of ND/CNC composites, including response sensitivity, humidity hyster-esis, dynamic characteristics, and stability, were tested at a relative humidity range from 11.3 % to 97.3 % RH combined with QCM transducers. In addition, the humidity-sensing performance of the QCM sensors with different ratios of composites was compared. The best ND/CNC-based QCM humidity sensors exhibited high sensitivity (54.1 Hz/%RH), low humidity hysteresis (3.2%RH), and fast response/recovery times. Then the adsorption process and sensitivity mechanism of water molecules on ND/CNC composites were analyzed using Langmuir isothermal adsorption model. Finally, the potential application of ND/CNC composite-based QCM humidity sensor was illustrated with respiration monitoring as an example.