Highly sensitive humidity sensing properties of carbon quantum dots films

We reported the fabrication of a humidity sensing device based on carbon quantum dots (CQDs) film. The conductivity of the CQDs film has a linear and rapid response to relative humidity, providing the opportunity for the fabrication of humidity sensing devices. The mechanism of our humidity sensor was proposed to be the formation of hydrogen bonds between carbon quantum dots and water molecules in the humidity environment, which significantly promote the electrons migration. In a control experiment, this hypothesis was confirmed by comparing the humidity sensitivity of candle soot (i.e. carbon nanoparticles) with and without oxygen containing groups on the surfaces.

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► A humidity sensing device was fabricated based on carbon quantum dots (CQDs) films.
► The conductivity of the CQDs films shows a linear and rapid response to atmosphere humidity.
► The humidity sensing property was due to the hydrogen bonds between the functional groups on CQDs.