Graphene oxide/calcium titanate composite preparation for humidity sensing by quartz crystal microbalance

Abstract

Humidity measurement has been taking attention since 1900s because of the fact that it is used in various aspects from weather forecasts to food and human safety, agricultural processes to mineral processing facilities. Therefore, there has been a growing requirement and extensive research on designing humidity sensors that are rapid, cost-effective, and highly sensitive. Although various methods have been developed, the Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) is a very promising candidate, as it has excellent sensitivity to changes in mass with a nanogram level of detection and, an extensive measuring range. In addition, QCM sensors are stable and reliable in mild operation conditions and can be developed with low-cost. However, the quality and the properties of sensors are highly dependent on the additional sensitive layer. Thus, an additional sensing layer on the surface of QCM electrodes is required to improve the sensor performance including selectivity, sensitivity, response/recovery time and stability. The sensing layer is one of the most important parameters that affects sensing properties of QCM. In literature, there are numerous studies for using different single component containing materials as sensing layer for humidity measurement. On the other hand, the combination of two or more materials, composites, is necessary to obtain improved sensing properties. For humidity sensing, the composite material can be made either with an additional porous material to enhance the interactions with water molecules or with an additional humidity sensitive material to increase the overall humidity sensitivity. Graphene oxide, a two-dimensional material with excellent physical properties, is an excellent candidate for humidity measurement because of the hydrophilic groups on its surface that ensure the adsorption of water molecules. In addition, the use of an additional nanostructured material as calcium titanate can improve the sensitivity by increasing the surface area to volume ratio. In this thesis, the preparation and coating properties of graphene oxide/calcium titanate composite-based material was investigated for the first time in literature. GO was obtained from graphite powder by using a modified Hummer's method. Calcium titanate particles were synthesized by sol-gel method. After the production of two different materials separately, they blended to obtain the composite material. Characterization analyses were performed for optical, structural, and morphological properties of graphene oxide, calcium titanate and graphene oxide/calcium titanate composite materials. The obtained results confirm that a successful production of the composite material was achieved.