Development of a Sustainable Flexible Humidity Sensor Based on <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> Larvae Biomass-Derived Chitosan
This study presents the fabrication of a sustainable flexible humidity sensor utilizing chitosan derived from mealworm biomass as the primary sensing material. The chitosan-based humidity sensor was fabricated by casting chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films with interdigitated copper electrode...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/2/575 |
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| author | Ezekiel Edward Nettey-Oppong Riaz Muhammad Emmanuel Ackah Hojun Yang Ahmed Ali Hyun-Woo Jeong Seong-Wan Kim Young-Seek Seok Seung Ho Choi |
| author_facet | Ezekiel Edward Nettey-Oppong Riaz Muhammad Emmanuel Ackah Hojun Yang Ahmed Ali Hyun-Woo Jeong Seong-Wan Kim Young-Seek Seok Seung Ho Choi |
| author_sort | Ezekiel Edward Nettey-Oppong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study presents the fabrication of a sustainable flexible humidity sensor utilizing chitosan derived from mealworm biomass as the primary sensing material. The chitosan-based humidity sensor was fabricated by casting chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films with interdigitated copper electrodes, forming a laminate composite suitable for real-time, resistive-type humidity detection. Comprehensive characterization of the chitosan film was performed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, and tensile testing, which confirmed its chemical structure, wettability, and mechanical stability. The developed sensor exhibited a broad range of measurements from 6% to 97% relative humidity (RH), a high sensitivity of 2.43 kΩ/%RH, and a rapid response time of 18.22 s with a corresponding recovery time of 22.39 s. Moreover, the chitosan-based humidity sensor also demonstrated high selectivity for water vapor when tested against various volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The superior performance of the sensor is attributed to the structural properties of chitosan, particularly its ability to form reversible hydrogen bonds with water molecules. This mechanism was further elucidated through molecular dynamics simulations, revealing that the conductivity in the sensor is modulated by proton mobility, which operates via the Grotthuss mechanism under high-humidity and the packed-acid mechanism under low-humidity conditions. Additionally, the chitosan-based humidity sensor was further seamlessly integrated into an Internet of Things (IoT) framework, enabling wireless humidity monitoring and real-time data visualization on a mobile device. Comparative analysis with existing polymer-based resistive-type sensors further highlighted the superior sensing range, rapid dynamic response, and environmental sustainability of the developed sensor. This eco-friendly, biomass-derived, eco-friendly sensor shows potential for applications in environmental monitoring, smart agriculture, and industrial process control. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a1bc5e10a606408e909f203afe77d932 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-a1bc5e10a606408e909f203afe77d9322025-01-24T13:49:24ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-01-0125257510.3390/s25020575Development of a Sustainable Flexible Humidity Sensor Based on <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> Larvae Biomass-Derived ChitosanEzekiel Edward Nettey-Oppong0Riaz Muhammad1Emmanuel Ackah2Hojun Yang3Ahmed Ali4Hyun-Woo Jeong5Seong-Wan Kim6Young-Seek Seok7Seung Ho Choi8Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Eulji University, Seongnam 13135, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Rural Development Administration, Wanju 55365, Republic of KoreaGangwon-do Agricultural Product Registered Seed Station, Chuncheon 24410, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Yonsei University, Wonju 26493, Republic of KoreaThis study presents the fabrication of a sustainable flexible humidity sensor utilizing chitosan derived from mealworm biomass as the primary sensing material. The chitosan-based humidity sensor was fabricated by casting chitosan and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) films with interdigitated copper electrodes, forming a laminate composite suitable for real-time, resistive-type humidity detection. Comprehensive characterization of the chitosan film was performed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, contact angle measurements, and tensile testing, which confirmed its chemical structure, wettability, and mechanical stability. The developed sensor exhibited a broad range of measurements from 6% to 97% relative humidity (RH), a high sensitivity of 2.43 kΩ/%RH, and a rapid response time of 18.22 s with a corresponding recovery time of 22.39 s. Moreover, the chitosan-based humidity sensor also demonstrated high selectivity for water vapor when tested against various volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The superior performance of the sensor is attributed to the structural properties of chitosan, particularly its ability to form reversible hydrogen bonds with water molecules. This mechanism was further elucidated through molecular dynamics simulations, revealing that the conductivity in the sensor is modulated by proton mobility, which operates via the Grotthuss mechanism under high-humidity and the packed-acid mechanism under low-humidity conditions. Additionally, the chitosan-based humidity sensor was further seamlessly integrated into an Internet of Things (IoT) framework, enabling wireless humidity monitoring and real-time data visualization on a mobile device. Comparative analysis with existing polymer-based resistive-type sensors further highlighted the superior sensing range, rapid dynamic response, and environmental sustainability of the developed sensor. This eco-friendly, biomass-derived, eco-friendly sensor shows potential for applications in environmental monitoring, smart agriculture, and industrial process control.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/2/575biomasschitosanhumidity sensormolecular dynamics |
| spellingShingle | Ezekiel Edward Nettey-Oppong Riaz Muhammad Emmanuel Ackah Hojun Yang Ahmed Ali Hyun-Woo Jeong Seong-Wan Kim Young-Seek Seok Seung Ho Choi Development of a Sustainable Flexible Humidity Sensor Based on <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> Larvae Biomass-Derived Chitosan Sensors biomass chitosan humidity sensor molecular dynamics |
| title | Development of a Sustainable Flexible Humidity Sensor Based on <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> Larvae Biomass-Derived Chitosan |
| title_full | Development of a Sustainable Flexible Humidity Sensor Based on <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> Larvae Biomass-Derived Chitosan |
| title_fullStr | Development of a Sustainable Flexible Humidity Sensor Based on <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> Larvae Biomass-Derived Chitosan |
| title_full_unstemmed | Development of a Sustainable Flexible Humidity Sensor Based on <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> Larvae Biomass-Derived Chitosan |
| title_short | Development of a Sustainable Flexible Humidity Sensor Based on <i>Tenebrio molitor</i> Larvae Biomass-Derived Chitosan |
| title_sort | development of a sustainable flexible humidity sensor based on i tenebrio molitor i larvae biomass derived chitosan |
| topic | biomass chitosan humidity sensor molecular dynamics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/2/575 |
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