Borophene and Silicene-Based Humidity Sensors using Quartz Crystal Microbalance

Humidity sensors, fundamental to a wide array of applications ranging from environmental monitoring to healthcare, have seen innovative advancements with the advent of two-dimensional (2D) materials. This study explores the promising potentials of borophene and silicene, two emergent 2D materials, as effective elements in humidity sensing when integrated into a Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) platform.<br/><br/>These sensors, fabricated by transposing atomically thin layers onto a QCM surface, operate based on the detection of mass variations as a consequence of water molecule adsorption or desorption, thereby causing a resonant frequency shift in the quartz crystal. Leveraging the exceptional surface-to-volume ratio and ultrathin attributes of borophene and silicene, these sensors exhibit a marked sensitivity to ambient humidity levels.<br/><br/>Our rigorous examination of the borophene and silicene sensors' humidity sensing performance showed significant shifts in the QCM's resonant frequency in relation to humidity changes, demonstrating their high moisture sensitivity.<br/><br/>We have also analyzed the borophene and silicene's surface structure and morphology for their applications in humidity sensing. We employed Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis to determine atomic arrangements, topographical features, specific surface areas, and pore size distributions. The integrative use of SEM and BET has provided an in-depth characterization of these 2D materials, expanding our understanding of their potential applicability.<br/><br/>In conclusion, our research emphasises borophene and silicene as potent candidates for humidity sensing applications, with their great sensitivity and atomically thin composition demonstrating a new era in sensor development. This study's insights could guide the design and optimization of advanced 2D material-based humidity sensors.