We report measurement of the silicon diffusion coefficient in silicon dioxide films using isotopically enriched ${}^{\mathrm{28}}\mathrm{Si}$ silicon dioxide layers that enable relatively low ${}^{\mathrm{30}}\mathrm{Si}$ concentration measurements to be performed using secondary ion mass spectrometry. Two types of experiments are made. ${}^{\mathrm{30}}\mathrm{Si}$ atoms are introduced in excess in a stoichiometric isotopically pure silicon dioxide layer either by ion implantation or by a predeposition technique. These experiments are representative of any physical situation in which excess silicon atoms are introduced into silicon dioxide layers during silicon processing. The estimated diffusivity values are significantly higher than previously reported values for Si diffusion within a stoichiometric oxide and closer to reported values for excess Si diffusion within an oxide. The activation energy of the diffusivity is found to be 4.74 eV.

In this paper, we investigated the effect of humidity on paper substrates and propose a simple and low-cost method for their passivation using ZnO nanoparticles. To this end, we built paper-based microdevices based on an interdigitated electrode (IDE) configuration by means of a mask-less laser patterning method on simple commercial printing papers. Initial resistive measurements indicate that a paper substrate with a porous surface can be used as a cost-effective, sensitive and disposable humidity sensor in the 20% to 70% relative humidity (RH) range. Successive spin-coated layers of ZnO nanoparticles then, control the effect of humidity. Using this approach, the sensors become passive to relative humidity changes, paving the way to the development of ZnO-based gas sensors on paper substrates insensitive to humidity.

This paper describes the fabrication and the characterization of an original example of a miniaturized resistive-type humidity sensor, printed on flexible substrate in a large-scale manner. The fabrication process involves laser ablation for the design of interdigitated electrodes on PET (Poly-Ethylene Terephthalate) substrate and a screen-printing process for the deposition of the sensitive material, which is based on TiO₂ nanoparticles. The laser ablation process was carefully optimized to obtain micro-scale and well-resolved electrodes on PET substrate. A functional paste based on cellulose was prepared in order to allow the precise screen-printing of the TiO₂ nanoparticles as sensing material on the top of the electrodes. The current against voltage (I–V) characteristic of the sensor showed good linearity and potential for low-power operation. The results of a humidity-sensing investigation and mechanical testing showed that the fabricated miniaturized sensors have excellent mechanical stability, sensing characteristics, good repeatability, and relatively fast response/recovery times operating at room temperature.