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Ultraviolet stabilization and performance enhancement of nanostructured humidity sensors

  • Author / Creator
    Smetaniuk, Daniel
  • Glancing angle deposition (GLAD) was used to fabricate nanostructured TiO$_2$ capacitive relative humidity (RH) sensors. These sensors exhibit sub-second response times and large sensitivities, but are susceptible to ageing. Ultraviolet (UV) treatment of the sensors has been found to reverse ageing and enhance sensor performance. This thesis presents research investigating the UV stabilization and performance enhancement of GLAD RH sensors. The UV treatment was characterized using a mercury vapour lamp and optical filters to isolate UV wavelengths. Treatment and long-term stabilization with UV light-emitting diodes (LEDs) was studied and 370 nm was identified as the optimum LED wavelength for stabilization. A custom 8-channel impedance analyzer that was built will allow for parallel sensor testing in future experimentation to optimize the UV treatment. The goal is to eventually combine a capacitive sensor with UV LEDs in a self-stabilizing sensing platform.

  • Subjects / Keywords
  • Graduation date
    Spring 2012
  • Type of Item
    Thesis
  • Degree
    Master of Science
  • DOI
    https://doi.org/10.7939/R31W7S
  • License
    This thesis is made available by the University of Alberta Libraries with permission of the copyright owner solely for non-commercial purposes. This thesis, or any portion thereof, may not otherwise be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the copyright owner, except to the extent permitted by Canadian copyright law.