title: Electrical and humidity characterization of m-NA doped Au/PVA nanocomposites.
abstract: The Meta-Nitroaniline (m-NA) doped (by varying weight percentage (wt. %)) gold/polyvinyl alcohol (Au/PVA) nanocomposites were synthesized using gold salt and hydrazine hydrate (HH) by in situ process. The composite was coated on ceramic rods having two end electrodes by drop casting method for studying their electrical behavior at different relative humidity (RH) levels, ranging from 4 to 95% RH at room temperature. The optimized wt. % was used to prepare coatings of various thicknesses (20-40 microm) of the films. As the humidity decreases, the resistance increases. The low humidity sensing characteristic can be tailored by varying wt. % of m-NA and thicknesses of the nanocomposite films. The resistive-humidity sensor shows two regions of sensitivity having highest sensitivity for lower RH. The sensor response and recovery time is about 6-10s and 52 s respectively. The dynamic range of variation of the resistance allows a promising use of the films as a humidity sensor. The material was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and impedance spectroscopy at 60% RH.
authors.affiliation: Center for Sensor Studies, Department of Physics, University of Pune, Pune 411007, India. mfuke@physics.unipune.ernet.in
authors.forename: Madhavi V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Fuke
authors.forename: P V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Adhyapak
authors.forename: U P
authors.initials: UP
authors.lastname: Mulik
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Amalnerkar
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Aiyer
mesh_terms: D000814:Aniline Compounds; D004563:Electrochemistry; D006046:Gold; D006813:Humidity; D006834:Hydrazines; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol
chemical_list: D000814:Aniline Compounds; D006834:Hydrazines; C029424:hydrazine; C008625:nitroaniline; D006046:Gold; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol