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handbook of modern sensors

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400 13 Humidity and Moisture Sensors<br />

(A)<br />

(B)<br />

Fig. 13.7. (A) Structure <strong>of</strong> Al 2 O 3 thin film moisture sensor; (B) simplified equivalent circuit<br />

<strong>of</strong> the sensor. R 1 and C 1 are moisture-dependent variable terms; R 2 and C 2 are shunting terms<br />

<strong>of</strong> bulk oxide between pores (unaffected by moisture); R 3 and C 3 are series terms below pores<br />

(unaffected by moisture).<br />

great, can be significantly improved by using the interpenetrating polymer networks<br />

and carriers and supporting media. When measured at 1 kHz, an experimental sample<br />

<strong>of</strong> such a film has demonstrated a change in impedance from 10 M to 100 as the<br />

RH changed from 0% to 90% [11].<br />

A solid-state humidity sensor can be fabricated on a silicon substrate (Fig. 13.7A).<br />

The silicon must be <strong>of</strong> a high conductance [12], which provides an electrical path from<br />

the aluminum electrode vacuum deposited on its surface. An oxide layer is formed on<br />

the top <strong>of</strong> the conductive aluminum layer, and on the top <strong>of</strong> that, another electrode is<br />

formed. The aluminum layer is anodized in a manner to form a porous oxide surface.<br />

The average cross-sectional dimension <strong>of</strong> pores is sufficient to allow penetration by<br />

water molecules. The upper electrode is made <strong>of</strong> a form <strong>of</strong> porous gold which is<br />

permeable to gas and, at the same time, can provide electrical contact. Electrical<br />

connections are made to the gold and silicon layers. Aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ), like<br />

numerous other materials, readily sorb water when in contact with a gas mixture<br />

containing water in the vapor phase. The amount <strong>of</strong> sorption is proportional to the<br />

water vapor partial pressure and inversely proportional to the absolute temperature.<br />

Aluminum oxide is a dielectric material. Its dielectric constant and surface resistivity<br />

are modified by the physisorption <strong>of</strong> water. For this reason, this material can be used<br />

as a humidity sensing compound.

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