Electrical characterization of PEDOT: PSS beyond humidity saturation

Abstract

PEDOT:PSS humidity sensor was fabricated using a drop-casting method between thermally evaporated gold electrodes with 30 μm separation and 300 μm channel width on a glass substrate. AC, DC resistivity, and AFM techniques were used to characterize the PEDOT:PSS humidity sensor in the same environmental conditions. The change of resistivity was monitored with increasing relative humidity (RH) up to 90%. The resistivity increases linearly up to a maximum value, and then it starts to decrease abruptly above 80% relative humidity (RH) after saturation of water uptake. The decrease in resistivity above 80% RH seems to be due to the water meniscus layer formed on the saturated PEDOT:PSS film. Below 80% RH, the device works like a humidity sensor.