Relative humidity and alcohol sensors based on mesoporous silica thin films synthesised from block copolymers

The response of a new type of based humidity and alcohol vapours sensor has been investigated by means of chemical characterisation and electric measurements. The silica thin film mesoporous sensors were manufactured by dip-coating on substrates with interdigitated electrodes. Large current intensity variation (more than four magnitude orders) as a function of the relative humidity or alcohol presence in the environment has been observed with a more sensitive region for low concentrations. The performance of the sensors has been found to be dependent on the film preparation parameters. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.