The humidity sensing characteristics of PANI-titania nanotube-rGO ternary nanocomposite

Humidity sensors are emerging in diverse technological areas in industrial and agricultural applications in diverse technological areas. Thus, the incorporation of desirable materials for acquiring enhanced performance is demanded. In this work, we have synthesized the PANI-TNT-rGO nanocomposite and applied it as a humidity sensor within the wide span of humidity levels. Incorporating PANI onto the structure increases the number of pores promoting the sensing possibilities. The synthesized TNT-rGO and PANI-TNT-rGO were prepared through two consequential processes, including hydrothermal and in situ polymerization methods. The synthesized TNT-rGO and PANI-TNT-rGO were characterized by X-ray diffraction, FTIR, Raman, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and BET surface area. The sensor's morphological, structural, and BET surface area affirm its quality for the humidity sensing areas. The fabricated sensor could propose a decent contribution in the sensing area with a quick response and recovery times. The sensitivity and sensing mechanism have been evaluated for both composites. The sensitivity of the PANI-TNT-rGO sensor was estimated to be 3.28 M omega/RH%. The experimental evidence confirmed that the PANI-TNT-rGO exhibited a fast response time of 13 s.

Automated summary

By synthesizing PANI-TNT-rGO nanocomposite and applying it as a humidity sensor, there is potential for significant applications in the field of humidity sensing. Experimental results show that the sensor has fast response time and high sensitivity.