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A linear humidity sensor based on bi-layered sensing area using exfoliated chromium carbide (Cr 3 C 2 ) and polyacrylamide (PAM) thin films has been fabricated through all printed methods. Transition metal carbides have unique properties that can be applied in various gas sensing applications. In this work, different combinations of Cr 3 C 2 with two polymers have been used to fabricate high performance linear humidity sensors. Cr 3 C 2 was processed using wet grinding exfoliation to achieve flakes and small particles of the material. Based on the working principle and sensing results of the single layered sensors, a novel bi-layered structure was proposed and fabricated with stable linear response and good sensitivity. The sensors are capable of measuring percentage relative humidity accurately in range of 0% RH to 90% RH with an absolute change of 660 Ω/%RH and fast response and recovery times of 1 s and 1.9 s respectively. The sensors can also work with simple frequency based read-out circuit with a highly linear and stable response. The fabricated sensors are cheap, easy to fabricate, and are ideal to be used in high end environmental and health monitoring applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high performance humidity sensor for environmental and health monitoring has been fabricated using various combinations of molybdenum carbide (Mo 2 C) with polyacrylamide (PAM) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The humidity sensing properties of pure Mo 2 C were compared with those of its composites with PAM and PVA. The response curves and working principle were investigated and novel bi-layered sensors were then fabricated to achieve highly linear and stable response for a wide range of humidity sensing (0% RH to 90% RH). The sensors having a bi-layer combination of Mo 2 C with PAM give a linear response with a sensitivity of 775 Ω/%RH and excellent repeatability. The working mechanism of the sensors allow them to be used with frequency response conversion read-out circuits and the results ascertain their linear and stable behavior. The response-time and recovery-time of the sensors were measured that gave average values of ∼1 s and ∼2.5 s respectively for the composites and ∼1.8 s and 2.3 s for the bi-layer configuration. The sensors are aimed to replace low performance complex and expensive sensors in the market for environmental and health monitoring applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]