Composite Dielectric Inks for Humidity Sensing

About this technology

Overview

Inventors at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) have developed humidity sensing dielectric ink formulations for use in printed electronic and sensor manufacturing applications. Novel ceramic powders with favorable dielectric properties are mixed with liquid resins to form a polymer-ceramic composite that can be deposited and cured at room temperature, eliminating high temperature sintering steps previously required to produce ceramic elements. The inks' epoxy and UV curable resin binders form consistent dispersions with viscosities suitable for deposition via aerosol jet or screen printing processes. Prototype humidity sensors produced using the novel ink formulations demonstrate high sensitivity and rapid, log-linear response to changes in relative humidity (RH) and have been explored for in-helmet breath sensing applications for astronauts or pilots. Suitability of the ink for use in capacitive energy storage applications has also been explored.