Publicação
Ionic liquid–cellulose acetate composites as humidity sensors for agriculture 4.0 and related technologies
| Resumo: | Humidity monitoring assessment is vital across fields such as agriculture, food processing, environmental monitoring, and healthcare, particularly within the framework of Agriculture 4.0, where smart sensing technologies enable efficient resource management and crop optimization. In this work, a sustainable cellulose acetate (CA)-based humidity sensor incorporating the ionic liquid (IL) bis(1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium) tetrachlorocobaltate (II) ([Bmim]₂[CoCl₄]) was developed and assessed. This study explores the incorporation of different contents (0–40 % wt.) of the IL into a CA matrix to obtain a hydrochromic and electrically responsive composite for humidity sensing. The CA/IL composite presents a blue colour at room temperature, but when immersed in water, it changes to transparent. The incorporation of IL increases porosity and wettability, enhancing the electrical selectivity of the material. Higher performance was achieved for the CA/[Bmim]₂[CoCl₄] blend with 20 wt% IL which enabled reliable relative humidity sensing in the 50–90 % RH range. This response was demonstrated through impedance-based measurements (−33 kΩ/%RH at 10 kHz) and distinct hidrochromic variations, allowing effective soil moisture monitoring across 20–90 % RH. This optimized formulation demonstrates strong potential for practical humidity monitoring applications, particularly in soil moisture sensing for sustainable agriculture. The findings highlight a natural-based material with improved sensitivity and dual-modality readout, supporting the development of environmentally friendly smart sensors. |
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| Autores principais: | Cruz, B. D. D. |
| Outros Autores: | Castro, A. S.; Pereira, N.; Tubio, C. R.; Tariq, M.; Esperança, J. M. S. S.; Martins, P. M.; Lanceros-Méndez, S.; Correia, D. M. |
| Assunto: | Cellulose acetate Humidity sensors Ionic liquids Smart materials Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment General Materials Science Waste Management and Disposal Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering SDG 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy |
| Ano: | 2026 |
| País: | Portugal |
| Tipo de documento: | artigo |
| Tipo de acesso: | acesso aberto |
| Instituição associada: | Universidade Nova de Lisboa |
| Idioma: | inglês |
| Origem: | Repositório Institucional da UNL |
| Resumo: | Humidity monitoring assessment is vital across fields such as agriculture, food processing, environmental monitoring, and healthcare, particularly within the framework of Agriculture 4.0, where smart sensing technologies enable efficient resource management and crop optimization. In this work, a sustainable cellulose acetate (CA)-based humidity sensor incorporating the ionic liquid (IL) bis(1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium) tetrachlorocobaltate (II) ([Bmim]₂[CoCl₄]) was developed and assessed. This study explores the incorporation of different contents (0–40 % wt.) of the IL into a CA matrix to obtain a hydrochromic and electrically responsive composite for humidity sensing. The CA/IL composite presents a blue colour at room temperature, but when immersed in water, it changes to transparent. The incorporation of IL increases porosity and wettability, enhancing the electrical selectivity of the material. Higher performance was achieved for the CA/[Bmim]₂[CoCl₄] blend with 20 wt% IL which enabled reliable relative humidity sensing in the 50–90 % RH range. This response was demonstrated through impedance-based measurements (−33 kΩ/%RH at 10 kHz) and distinct hidrochromic variations, allowing effective soil moisture monitoring across 20–90 % RH. This optimized formulation demonstrates strong potential for practical humidity monitoring applications, particularly in soil moisture sensing for sustainable agriculture. The findings highlight a natural-based material with improved sensitivity and dual-modality readout, supporting the development of environmentally friendly smart sensors. |
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