High-performance humidity sensors based on electrospinning ZnFe2O4 nanotubes

Abstract

In this paper, ZnFe₂O₄ nanotubes were fabricated by a simple electrospinning method. The scanning electron microscopy images show that the obtained ZnFe₂O₄ nanotubes had a hollow structure and had a diameter of about 80–100 nm, and wall thickness of 15–20 nm. A humidity sensor based on as-prepared nanotubes was fabricated and exhibited good performance, high sensitivity, fast response and recovery and good stability. When RH switched between 75% and 35%, the resistance changed from 2.63 × 10⁷ Ω to 1.65 × 10⁹ Ω. The corresponding sensitivity was calculated to be 62.7. The response and recovery time was 11 s and 5.6 s respectively. The sensor also showed good stability and repeatability. These results indicated that the synthesized ZnFe₂O₄ nanotubes were promising candidates for high-performance humidity sensors.