Design strategy for ultrafast-response humidity sensors based on gel polymer electrolytes and application for detecting respiration

Respiratory monitoring is crucial for the assessment of human health, and can be realized by detecting the humidity of exhaled gases. In this work, a facile method for the in situ fabrication of stable humidity sensors based on gel polymer electrolytes was developed. The obtained humidity sensors demonstrate ultrafast response/recovery times (0.19/0.30 s), which are very promising for monitoring respiration. Reliable signals for different respiratory states were obtained via humidity sensors. In addition, the ultrafast-response mechanism of the sensors was investigated using complex impedance spectroscopy and a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM).