HUMIDITY SENSING POTENTIAL OF A MICROCRYSTALLINE CELLULOSE SHEET

Abstract

Generally, physical objects connected to the internet, directly communicating with others, are limited to personal computers and smartphones. However, with the advent of IoT, many other physical objects will interconnect and communicate through the internet, enabling the automatic and remote control of the environment. The effectiveness of this system will depend on our ability to collect data on the environment. Transducers are materials that gather information about the environment and transform it into electrical signals. Therefore, the discovery of potential transducer materials has become the need of the hour. \nIn this study, we investigate the potential of a microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) sheet for remote humidity sensing. The variation in MCC’s incremental moisture adsorption with relative humidity shows a sharper change at higher humidities, comparable to tropical climatic conditions. The findings of the study reveal that the relative humidity (RH) changes can be converted to electrical signals by an MCC sheet, and the linearity of this transduction depends on the frequency. The highest linearities can be obtained at lower frequencies, and the level of sensitivity of this transducer also depends on the frequency. Better sensitivities are observed at lower frequencies. Therefore, the MCC-sheet transducer is more appropriate for remote sensors operating at lower frequencies. \n