Wearable temperature sensors are becoming increasingly important for continuous health monitoring, personalized healthcare, and biointegrated electronic systems. However, conventional temperature-sensing platforms often suffer from limited thermal sensitivity, insufficient mechanical compliance, and unstable performance under repeated deformation, making it difficult to detect subtle physiological temperature variations in real time. Here, this tutorial status report presents a fabrication strategy for highly sensitive wearable temperature sensors based on gold-doped crystalline silicon nanomembranes. Gold diffusion into crystalline silicon introduces deep-level impurity states that modulate the Fermi level and shift the freeze-out region toward the physiological temperature range, enabling an ultrahigh negative temperature coefficient of resistance. By integrating the gold-doped silicon nanomembrane with a polyimide-supported ultrathin platform, neutral mechanical plane design, and serpentine mesh interconnects, the resulting device can provide high thermal sensitivity, fast response, conformal skin attachment, and stable operation under mechanical deformation. This fabrication approach is expected to broaden the use of impurity-engineered silicon nanomembranes in next-generation wearable sensors, flexible bioelectronics, and multifunctional healthcare monitoring systems.
Humidity monitoring of exhaled breath has emerged as a vital approach for noninvasive respiratory health assessment, underscoring the need for sensitive and reliable humidity sensors. Despite its high conductivity and hydrophilic functional groups, reduced graphene oxide (rGO) often undergoes irreversible moisture adsorption and gradual oxidation by residual water, resulting in sensitivity degradation and long-term instability during cycling. In this study, a montmorillonite/reduced graphene oxide (MMT/rGO) composite is developed as a room-temperature humidity-sensing material, exhibiting an optimized response of 115%, more than 14 times higher than that of pristine rGO. This superior performance originates from the synergistic interaction between the reversible MMT swelling and the conductive rGO network near the electrical percolation transition, which ensures excellent stability and repeatability under repeated humidity cycles. These findings suggest that the MMT/rGO composite provides a cost-effective and biocompatible platform for next-generation wearable humidity sensors capable of continuous respiratory monitoring.
(La1-xBixSr0.3)FeO₃ ceramics exhibiting excellent magnetoresistance were synthesized via the conventional solid-state reaction method. The structural and electrical properties were investigated as a function of Bi3+ content to evaluate their potential application as temperature sensors. And the sintering temperature and time were 1,200℃ and 4 h, respectively. The structural and electrical properties were investigated as a function of Bi content. With increasing Bi substitution, a slight enhancement in both average grain size and relative sintered density was observed. In particular, the specimen with x = 0.3 exhibited an average grain size of approximately 0.82 μm. All samples demonstrated negative temperature coefficient of resistance (NTCR) behavior, and the electrical resistivity decreased with increasing Bi content. The resistivity of the (La0.4Bi0.3Sr0.3)FeO₃ composition was 4.68 mΩ-cm at 25°C. Additionally, the temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) and the B25/75-value, which quantify the sensitivity of resistivity to temperature variations, were found to increase with Bi content. (La0.4Bi0.3Sr0.3)FeO₃ sample exhibited a TCR of 0.43%/°C and a B25/75-value of 1,096 K at room temperature. The electrical conduction mechanism of the (La1-xBixSr0.3)FeO₃ system was well described by the small polaron hopping model, wherein thermally activated charge carriers hop between localized Fe-O-Fe sites via electron-phonon interactions.
With the rapid development of digital technologies such as IoT, AI, and big data, electrical energy consumption is rapidly increasing. Electrical facilities that supply electrical energy are operated with high reliability and stability for end-of-life time. In addition, depending on the type of electrical load that consumes electrical energy in various forms, electrical insulation systems deteriorate due to electrical and thermal stress, which reduces electrical and mechanical insulation strength. Due to such continuous stress and electrical transient phenomena, electrical facilities may experience electrical accidents due to electrical insulation breakdown before the expected design lifetime. In addition, periodic inspections according to related regulations must be conducted to prevent unexpected electrical accidents, but this leads to problems in which the electrical facilities cannot be turned off. Therefore, it is believed that an uninterruptible diagnostic judgment technique that determines compliance with related regulations such as electrical facility technology standards, internal wiring regulations, and inspection regulations without turning off the electrical facilities and at the same time detects abnormal conditions of the facilities early, it is possible to prevent electrical accidents and improve the efficiency of electrical facilities. In this paper, we propose an uninterruptible power diagnosis judgment technique that can prevent or reduce electrical accidents in cast-iron transformers by applying judgment criteria of diagnostic sensors for various types of measurement parameters that can diagnose and evaluate the presence or absence of abnormalities in electrical equipment, including partial discharge, and AI algorithms learned from data of diagnostic sensors.
The continuous and long-lasting monitoring of physiological signals induced from the human body is crucial for health monitoring, disease diagnosis, and treatment. In this study, we have reported the Seebeck effect-based flexible selfpowered temperature sensor which can convert the electric signals from lateral temperature difference. For demonstrating temperature sensor arrays, the p-type thermoelectric (TE) composite films were fabricated by dispersing the Bi0.5Sb1.5Te3 (BST) powders inside poly-vinylidene fluoride matrix and subsequently attached to the patterned electrode foils. The inorganic BST powders-embedded TE composite films with activated area of 0.5 × 1 cm² harvest a maximum voltage of 1.7 mV, a maximum current of 5.6 mA, and an output power of 2.6 nW from the temperature gradient (ΔT) of 20 K. Finally, the fabricated selfpowered temperature sensor array well detected the pattern images of external thermal source of ΔT = 20 K. This study manifests flexible temperature sensor array which paves the way for further advancements in this field.
The composite specimens of (1-x)(La0.7Sr0.3)MnO₃-xBaTiO₃ (x = 0.05 ~ 0.3) were synthesized using the conventional solid-state reaction method, and the sintering temperature and time were 1,300℃ and 3 hours, respectively. As a result of observing the structural characteristics, the crystal structure of LSMO-BT solid solution was shown in which the rhombohedral LSMO phase and the tetragonal BT phase were separated and distributed, respectively. And fine grains having relatively small and uniformly distributed grains with sizes ranging from approximately 0.4 to 0.5 μm and pores within the specimens were observed. Notably, variations in the BT content did not significantly affect the grain size or porosity distribution, and a relative density of about 90% or more was shown. The resistivity, temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR), and B25/65-value of the 0.7LSMO-0.3BT specimen at room temperature showed the highest values of 1.94 Ω-cm, 0.292 %/℃, and 464 K, respectively. The resistivity behavior of the LSMO-BT composites matched well with the small polaron hopping conduction model.
We have proposed and demonstrated a fiber optic magnetic field sensor using a FBG (fiber bragg grating) attached on a Terfenol-D bar. The volume of Terfenol-D is changed by the applied magnetic field due to the magnetostriction effect, as a result, the grating period of FBG varies with the intensity of the magnetic field and the Bragg wavelength of FBG is shifted. The temperature sensitivity of the sensor was measured with and without the magnetic field. The temperature sensitivity of the sensor was measured to be 0.02 nm/℃. We observed that the sensitivity of the fabricated device to magnetic field intensity was decreased with the environment temperature.
This paper presents a comparative analysis of the fire detection characteristics between conventional fire detector sensors and an Si-based color sensor. With the rapid industrial development in modern society, the concentration of urban populations and the expansion of building sizes have accelerated, leading to an increased frequency of large-scale fires. As a result, the importance of fire detection technologies has been emphasized. However, conventional detectors continue to experience issues such as false alarms and malfunctions. To address these challenges, a novel fire detection technology utilizing an Si-based color sensor, which is effective for fire detection, is proposed. To evaluate the fire detection performance of each sensor, a fire detection test apparatus was developed, and experiments were conducted separately under smoke and flame conditions to analyze the fire detection capabilities of the Si-based color sensor, temperature sensor, and flame detection sensor. The experimental results demonstrated that detection speed and sensor values varied depending on the type of combustible material. Specifically, in the smoke and flame tests, the Si-based color sensor detected fires 26.7 and 43.7 seconds faster than the temperature sensor, and 26.6 and 15.4 seconds faster than the flame detection sensor, respectively. Therefore, it was confirmed that the Si-based color sensor proposed in this study is an effective detection technology that is expected to provide improved performance compared to conventional fire detectors.
Energy harvesting technology offers an innovative solution for providing self-sustaining power to wearable and implantable electronic devices. However, traditional energy harvesters face limitations in operating within electrolytic environments or at low motion speeds. To overcome these challenges, a mechano-electrochemical energy harvester using carbon nanotubes has been developed. This technology relies on electrochemical ion movement to induce changes in electrochemical double-layer capacitance, enabling operation within electrolytes and optimizing performance at low deformation speeds. This environmentally friendly and sustainable energy solution is expected to play a crucial role in the advancement of future smart systems and wearable technologies.
As the importance of eco-friendly technologies increases, hydrogen vehicles are gaining significant attention as a key component of future mobility. However, the sensor technology required to accurately measure the concentration of high-purity hydrogen gas, which serves as the fuel for hydrogen vehicles, currently lacks the sensitivity needed for commercialization and remains at a demonstrative stage. This study aims to enhance the detection performance of hydrogen sensors by optimizing the fabrication process of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA) with a Pt-based electrode-electrolyte-electrode structure, where the proton-conducting electrolyte is sandwiched between upper and lower Pt electrodes. The MEA was fabricated using a hot press method, and the process was optimized by adjusting pressure, temperature, and time parameters to improve both the physical and electrical properties of the MEA. The hydrogen sensor produced using the optimized MEA showed improved sensitivity. This enhancement enables the effective monitoring of high-purity hydrogen gas used in hydrogen vehicles, thereby improving the fuel efficiency of these vehicles.
The search for sustainable and efficient energy conversion technologies is becoming increasingly critical in response to global energy and environmental challenges. Traditional lead-based piezoelectric materials, such as lead zirconate titanate (PZT), have high piezoelectric constant but present significant health problems and environmental risks due to their hazardous metal contaminants. This study addresses these concerns by investigating barium titanate (BTO), a lead-free alternative, and enhancing its performance using anisotropic nanowires (NWs) structures. BTO NWs were synthesized via a two-step hydrothermal method and incorporated into a poly(vinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene) [P(VDF-TrFE)] matrix to fabricate a piezoelectric composite film. The resulting device demonstrated a notable increase in electrical output compared to devices based on isotropic morphology of BTO nanoparticles, exhibiting enhanced performance. These findings suggest that BTO NWs hold significant promise for applications in flexible and wearable electronics, paving the way for further advancements in sustainable energy technology.
Piezoelectric ceramics play an important role in various electronic applications. However, traditional ceramics are difficult to be used in some complicated structures, due to their low flexibility and high brittleness. To solve this problem, this study prepared and investigated ceramic/polymer composites that can utilize a good flexibility of polymers. Polyvinylidene fluoride-trifluoroethylene (PVDF-TrFE) and 0.77(Bi1/2Na1/2)TiO3-0.23SrTiO3 (BNST23) ceramics were selected to fabricate the composites. Ceramic/polymer composites were prepared using various volume fractions of BNST23 ceramics. The distribution of piezoceramic particles in BNST23/PVDF-TrFE composites was investigated using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The dielectric and piezoelectric properties of the composites were significantly influenced by the volume fraction of the piezoelectric ceramics. As a result, the highest piezoelectric constant (d33) of 56 pC/N was obtained in a composites with 70% volume fraction of BNST23 ceramics. Accordingly, it is expected that BNST23/PVDF-TrFE composites can be applied to various sensor applications.
Oxide semiconductor gas sensors are widely used for detecting toxic, explosive, and flammable gases due to their simple structure, cost-effectiveness, and potential integration into compact devices. However, their reliable gas detection is hindered by a longstanding issue known as humidity dependence, wherein the sensor resistance and gas response change significantly in the presence of moisture. This problem has persisted since the inception of oxide semiconductor gas sensors in the 1960s. This paper explores the root causes of humidity dependence in oxide semiconductor gas sensors and presents strategies to address this challenge. Mitigation strategies include functionalizing the gas-sensing material with noble metal/transition metal oxides and rare-earth/rare-earth oxides, as well as implementing a moisture barrier layer to prevent moisture diffusion into the gas-sensing film. Developing oxide semiconductor gas sensors immune to humidity dependence is expected to yield substantial socioeconomic benefits by enabling medical diagnosis, food quality assessment, environmental monitoring, and sensor network establishment.
We have proposed and demonstrated a fiber optic RH (relative humidity) sensor based on fiber Bragg grating covered with a polyimide film. As the polyimide film absolves the moisture in the air, its volume expands. As a result, the grating period of the FBG (fiber Bragg grating) covered with a polyimide film becomes wide and the Bragg wavelength is shifted. The sensor is implemented by fixing a 30 ㎛ thickness polyimide film on the surface of an optical fiber grating using an adhesive, and the characteristics of the device according to humidity are analyzed. The fabricated FBG RH sensor showed a high sensitivity of 0.0186 nm/RH% and a wide measurement range from 30% to 90%. The influence of environmental temperature on the characteristics of the RH sensor was also measured and analyzed. The feasibility of commercialization is presented.
This paper presents the development and market trends of nano biosensors. These biosensors must possess high sensitivity and selectivity to effectively detect diseases. Presently, many research groups are focusing on the field-effect transistor aspect of nano biosensors, which can identify diseases such as Down syndrome, bladder cancer, breast cancer, and numerous other cancers, utilizing graphene and transition metal dichalcogenide materials. In the case of in-vitro diagnostics, the use of nano biosensors has been rapidly growing since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This paper also discusses market trends and the outlook for both national and international enterprises engaged in the nano biosensor field. Nano biosensors are expected to play a beneficial and significant role soon, contributing to the early diagnosis of diseases and subsequently improving patient outcomes.
Piezoelectric ceramics play an important role in electrical and electronic devices such as sensors, actuators, and microelectronic devices. However, traditional ceramics are difficult to be used in various process industries due to their high brittleness and low flexibility. Therefore, piezoelectric paint sensors have been designed for application to the curved surfaces of complicated structures. Furthermore, recently, significant attention has been focused on the development of paint sensors that can be used as structure health monitoring sensors for vibration, impact, and acoustic emission. Several studies have successfully demonstrated the possibility that smart paint sensors can take the place of traditional ceramic sensors. In this review, we briefly introduce the concept of the piezoelectric paint sensors and the expected application field as well as their preparation and history.
With the increasing demand for mobile devices featuring multi-touch operation, extensive research is being conducted on touch screen panel (TSP) Readout ICs (ROICs) that should possess low power consumption, compact chip size, and immunity to external noise. Therefore, this paper discusses capacitive touch sensors and their readout circuits, and it introduces research trends in various circuit designs that are robust against external noise sources. The recent state-of-the-art TSP ROICs have primarily focused on minimizing the impact of parasitic capacitance (Cp) caused by thin panel thickness. The large Cp can be effectively compensated using an area-efficient current compensator and Current Conveyor (CC), while a display noise reduction scheme utilizing a noise-antenna (NA) electrode significantly improves the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Based on these achievements, it is expected that future TSP ROICs will be capable of stable operation with thinner and flexible Touch Screen Panels (TSPs).
This paper reports a method to use a wireless sensor network deployed in the field to real-time monitor soil moisture, warning when the moisture level reaches a specific value, and wirelessly controlling an additional device (LED or water supply system, etc.). In addition, we report all processes related to wireless irrigation system, including field deployment of sensors, real-time monitoring using a smartphone, data calibration, and control of additional devices deployed in the field by smartphone. A commercially available open-source Internet of Things (IoT) platform, NodeMCU, was used, which was combined with a 9V battery, LED and soil humidity sensor to be integrated into a portable prototype. The IoT-based soil humidity sensor prototype deployed in the field was installed next to a tree for on-site demonstration for the measurement of soil humidity in real-time for about 30 hours, and the measured data was successfully transmitted to a smartphone via Wifi. The measurement data were automatically transmitted via e-mail in the form of a text file, stored on the web, followed by analyses and calibrations. The user can check the humidity of the soil real-time through a personal smartphone. When the humidity of a soil reached a specific value, an additional device, an LED device, placed in the field was successfully controlled through the smartphone. This LED can be easily replaced by other electronic devices such as water supplies, which can also be controlled by smartphones. These results show that farmers can not only monitor the condition of the field real-time through a sensor monitoring system manufactured simply at a low cost but also control additional devices such as irrigation facilities from a distance, thereby reducing unnecessary energy consumption and helping improve agricultural productivity.
Capacitive-type humidity sensors with a high sensitivity and fast response/recovery times have attracted a great attention in non-contact respiration biological signal monitoring applications. However, complicated fabrication processes involving high-temperature heat treatment for the hygroscopic film is essential in the conventional ceramic-based humidity sensors. In this study, a non-toxic ceramic/metal halide (BaTiO3(BT)/NaCl) humidity sensor was prepared at room temperature using a solvent-free aerosol deposition process (AD) without any additional process. Currently prepared BT/NaCl humidity sensor shows an excellent sensitivity (245 pF/RH%) and superior response/recovery times (3s/4s) due to the NaCl ionization effect resulting in an immense interfacial polarization. Furthermore, the non-contact respiration signal variation using the BT/NaCl sensor was determined to be over 700% by maintaining the distance of 20 cm between the individual and the sensor. Through the AD-fabricated sensor in this study, we expect to develop a non-contact biological signal monitoring system that can be applied to various fields such as respiratory disease detection and management, infant respiratory signal observation, and touchless skin moisture sensing button.
In this paper, through the development of a smart panel (LCD kiosk) controller, contents to develop a system that can be operate in a desired environment by operating the window control and ventilation facilities according to the automatic controller operation based on the set values such as temperature, humidity, sunlight, and rainfall. In particular, the MQTT protocol-based sensor module can be directly manufactured and applied at any time based on various communication and power sources such as wireless, wired, and PLC (power line communication) to obtain the desired data, as well as fire, power failure, and intrusion in the house. It is also a system that enables operation and monitoring from a remote location based on the cloud environment by connecting sensors. Kiosks are currently being used in many places, and the demand for them is on the rise, and an active influx of young people can be expected through environmental improvement. It is expected to increase interest and understanding for improvement.
Smart livestock, which combines information and communication technology (ICT) with livestock, can be said to be an effective solution to existing livestock problems such as productivity improvement, odors, and diseases. So far, it has hardly been universalized; thus, it is necessary to develop automation devices to reduce labor by localizing automation devices to expand the distribution of ICT technology to farms, and to advance precise specifications and health management technology using biometric information. Weighing scales currently being used in livestock farms are to prevent the spread of diseases by diagnosis and preparation for AI and other diseases in advance, using information on the growing weight of duck breeding. However, accurate values cannot be obtained due to poor breeding conditions. In this paper, we developed a separate data transmission system kit for the weighing scale and placed the sensor on top of the weighing scale so that the sensor wire is not affected by pollutants or ducks on the floor. A display function was provided, and a method of receiving and analyzing the serial port data of the weighing device, and then transmitting them to the data collection server was implemented.
This paper describes why we must use graphene materials for solar cells and biosensors. It has been superior in several properties such as super-thin film, higher tensile strength, high current density, high thermal conductivity, and high mobility. Therefore, graphene is one of the emerging advanced materials because of its applicability in various electronic device applications. We investigated the requirements of graphene materials for the application of solar cells and biosensors. In addition, we discussed the research trends such as transducers in biosensors and transparent electrodes in solar cells. The research on graphene materials and their application will be beneficial and helpful for the near future.
Direct exposure to toxic and hazardous gases has always been considered as the most pervasive problem worldwide, leading to a gradual increase in the number of asthma patients due to NOx/SOx gases inhaling and exposure to 50 ppm formaldehyde gases. Therefore, the development of accurate gas sensors is a key issue for resolving these problems. To address such issues, the development of membranes for selective filtering of target molecules as well as nanocatalyst for enhancing the sensing selectivity is highly crucial. In this review, the research progress for porous membrane materials (e.g. MOFs, and graphene) and nanocatalyst technology for the development of selective and accurate gas sensors will be discussed.
Hyeon Yeong Lee, Kwangwon Kim, Jiwon Ye, Suhyeon Woo, Geon Lee, Seungah Lee, Seong Rok Jeong, Seon Hye Jeong, Ho Seong Kim, Ga Hyeon Nam, Yun Yeong Jo, Han Seung Choi, Jungho Ryu
J Electr Electron Mater 2021;34(6):495-504. Published online November 1, 2021
Energy Harvesting is a technology that can convert wasted energy such as vibration, heat, light, electromagnetic energy, etc. into usable electrical energy. Among them, vibration-based piezoelectric energy harvesting (PEH) has high energy conversion efficiency with a small volume; thus, it is expected to be used in various autonomous powering devices, such as implantable medical devices, wearable devices, and energy harvesting from road or automobiles. In this study, wasted vibration energy in an automobile is converted into electrical energy by high-power piezoelectric materials, and the generated electrical energy is found to be an auxiliary power source for the operation of wireless sensor nodes, LEDs, etc. inside an automobile. In order to properly install the PEH in an automobile, vibration characteristics includes frequency and amplitude at several positions in the automobile is monitored initially and the cantilever structured PEH was designed accordingly. The harvesting properties of fabricated PEH is characterized and installed into the engine part of the automobile, where the vibration amplitude is stable and strong. The feasibility of PEH is confirmed by operating electric components (LEDs) that can be used in practice.
Controlling ambient humid condition through high performance humidity sensors has become important for various fields, including industrial process, food storage, and the preservation of historic remains. Although aerosol deposited humidity sensors using ceramic BaTiO3 (BT) material have been widely studied because of their longtime stability, there remain critical disadvantages, such as low sensitivity, low linearity, and slow response/recovery time in case of the sensors fabricated at room temperature. To achieve superior humidity sensing properties even at room temperature condition, BT-Cu composite films utilizing aerosol deposition (AD) process have been proposed based on the percolation theory. The BT-Cu composite films showed gradually improved sensing properties until the Cu concentration reached 15 wt% in the composite film. However, the excessive Cu (above 30 wt%) containing BT-Cu composite films showed a rapid decrease of the sensing properties. The results of observed surface morphology of the AD fabricated composite films, to figure out the metal filler effect, showed correlation between surface topography as well as size and the amount of open pores according to the metal filler content. Overall, it is very important not only dielectric constant of the humidity sensing films but also microstructures, because they affect either the variation range of capacitance by ambient humidity or adsorption/desorption of ambient humidity onto/from the humidity sensing films.
In this study, a pressure sensor for each displacement was fabricated based on the silicon-based pressure sensor obtained through simulation results. Wires were bonded to the pressure sensor, and a piezoresistive pressure sensor was inserted into the printed circuit board (PCB) base by directly connecting a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) sensor and a readout integrated circuit (ROIC) for signal processing. In addition, to prevent exposure, a non-conductive liquid silicone was injected into the sensor and the entire ROIC using a pipette. The packaging proceeded to block from the outside. Performing such packaging, comparing simple contact with strong contact, and confirming that the measured pulse wavelength appears accurately.
Atmospheric environmental problems have a major impact on human health and lifestyle. In humans, inhalation of nitrogen oxides causes respiratory diseases, such as bronchitis. In this paper, thermal analysis of a gas sensor was carried out to design and fabricate a wearable nylon-yarn gas sensor for the detection of NOx gas. In the thermal analysis method, the thermal diffusion process was analyzed while operating the sensors at 40 and 60℃ to secure a temperature range that does not cause thermal runaway due to temperature in the operating environment. Thermal diffusion analysis was performed using the COMSOL software. The thermal analysis results could be useful for analyzing gas adsorption and desorption, as well as the design of gas sensors. The thermal energy diffusion rate increased slightly from 10.05 to 10.1 K/mm as the sensor temperature increased from 40 to 60℃. It was concluded that the sensor could be operated in this temperature range without thermal breakdown.
Hazardous and noxious substance (HNS) detection sensors were fabricated using multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and various binder materials for ion batteries. To obtain uniformly printed films, the printing precision according to the substrate cleaning method was monitored, and the printing paste mixing ratio was investigated. Binders were prepared using styrene butadiene rubber + carboxymethyl cellulose (SBR+CMC), polyvinylidene fluoride + n-methyl-2-pyrrolidene (PVDF+NMP), and mixed with MWCNTs. The surface morphology of the printed films was examined using an optical microscope and a scanning electron microscope, and their electrical properties are investigated using an I-V sourcemeter. Finally, sensing properties of MWCNT printed films were measured according to changes in the concentration of the chemical under the various applied voltages. In conclusion, the MWCNT printed films made of (SBR+CMC) were found to be feasible for application to the detection of hazardous and noxious chemicals spilled in seawater.
We have proposed a novel planar lightwave circuit (PLC) optical sensor to monitor the contamination in a flow-cell where water is continuously supplied through a water quality measurement system. We designed a PLC chip with a V-shape waveguide and the simulated its function as a sensor for monitoring contamination in a flow-cell using a numerical the FDTD (finite-difference time-domain) analysis. A novel cross type of waveguide was introduced to make the PLC chip of the V-shaped waveguide. The fabricated PLC was cut into the cross waveguide. A change in the optical propagation loss of the PLC sensor was observed after immersing the PLC sensor into city water. It was determined that the propagation loss of the PLC sensor was 3 dB at a wavelength of 1.55 μm in the city water for 15 days.
In this study, we produced a light, flexible, wearable gas sensor by depositing MWCNTs (Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes) into nylon. MWCNTs are widely used as a gas sensor material due to their excellent mechanical, electrical and physical characteristics. We produced a gas sensor to detect NOx gases by depositing nylon yarn in a MWCNT solution. The MWCNT solution was made by mixing 3 mg MWCNT in 5 ml of ethanol. Nylon yarn was placed in the manufactured solution and ultrasonic waves were applied using an ultrasonicator for 3 h, resulting in MCWNT deposition. The MWCNT-deposited nylon yarn was dried at room temperature for 24 h. The MWCNT-thin-film-coated nylon yarn was masked 1 mm apart, and gold was then deposited on the masked nylon yarn to create the gas sensor. The sensor then was installed in a chamber with a controlled atmospheric environment and exposed to NOx gas. The changing signal from the sensor was amplified to analyze its gas detection characteristics.