Method and apparatus for sensing humidity
AssigneeNational Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
InventorsJessica Whitney Kopatz, Christine Cardinal Roberts, Koushik Ghosh, Anthony Michael McMaster, Matthew Kaboolian
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Abstract
A humidity sensor is provided. The humidity sensor comprises a hydrogel made from hydrophilic polymer and carbon nitride dots embedded in the hydrogel. The carbon nitride dots generate a colorimetric response in visible light in response to absorption of moisture by the hydrogel. Conversely, the colorimetric response of the carbon nitride dots reverses in response to loss of moisture in the hydrogel. Changes in humidity can be detected according to the colorimetric response of the carbon nitride dots in the hydrogel.
Claims16
A humidity sensor, comprising:
- a hydrogel comprising a hydrophilic polymer;
- and
- carbon nitride dots embedded in the hydrogel, wherein the carbon nitride dots generate a colorimetric response in visible light in response to absorption of moisture by the hydrogel.
A method of synthesizing a carbon nitride dot-doped nanocomposite hydrogel, the method comprising:
- mixing a hydrophilic polymer with carbon nitride dots;
- adding 1.5 vol % of a photo initiator to the mixture of hydrophilic polymer and carbon nitride dots;
- and
- exposing the mixture of hydrophilic polymer, carbon nitride dots, and photo initiator to ultraviolet light to produce a hydrogel embedded with the carbon nitride dots, wherein the carbon nitride dots generate a colorimetric response in visible light in response to absorption of moisture by the hydrogel.
A method of detecting humidity, the method comprising:
- embedding carbon nitride dots into a hydrogel comprising a hydrophilic polymer, wherein the carbon nitride dots generate a colorimetric response in visible light in response to absorption of moisture by the hydrogel, and wherein the colorimetric response of the carbon nitride dots reverses in response to loss of moisture in the hydrogel;
- and
- detecting changes in humidity according to the colorimetric response of the carbon nitride dots in the hydrogel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.