Nanocomposites and nanomaterials

Sensor elements based on nanostructured materials for implementation in portable measuring system
H. Klym1, Yu. Kostiv1, I. Hadzaman2

1Lviv Polytechnic National University, Bandery str., 12, Lviv-79013, Ukraine 
E-mail: halyna.i.klym@lpnu.ua; klymha@yahoo.com 
2Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University, Ivan Franko str., 24, Drohobych-82100, Ukraine

The aim of this work is design and investigation of sensor elements based on nanostructured ceramics for portable microclimate monitoring system.
In this work nanostructured bulk and thick-film humidity-sensitive ceramic-based sensors sintered at 1100…1400 C and temperature-sensitive thick-film sensor structures in different design based on Cu0.1Ni0.1Co1.6Mn1.2O4 and Cu0.1Ni0.8Co0.2Mn1.9O4 ceramics were studied. 
Temperature-sensitive of single-layer p+, p-conductive thick-film elements and double p-p+ and triple-layered p-p+-p structures have good electrical characteristics in the linear range of 298...358 K in a semi-logarithmic scale [1]. The value of the constant temperature B which show the temperature sensitivity of elements increases from 3589-3595 K in single-layered thick films, up to 3615 K and 3700 K in double and a triple-layered structures, respectively. 
Ceramic elements obtained 1100 and 1200 C has good sensitivity, change in the electrical resistances is near 2 degrees in values of relative humidity 33…70 %. However, these elements are practically unsuitable for application in the range of 70…95 %. The sensitivity of sensors prepared at 1300 C was extended to 80 %. But best characteristics substantially over the whole range are for sensors sintered at 1400 C. The change of electrical resistances is 3 degrees.
Sensors based on the studied ceramic elements were used in portable measuring system for environmental monitoring for Android OS. In general, the developed system contains of two main boards: Arduino Uno and Ethernet Shield, as well as obtained and investigated sensors in bulk and thick-film performance. 

1.	Klym H., Hadzaman I., Ingram A., Shpotyuk O. Multilayer thick-film structures based on spinel ceramics // Canadian Journal of Physics, 2014, 92(7/8), 822-826.