Detects humidity at a distance of about 1cm without direct contact
660 times more sensitive and 12 times faster than existing sensors
Suitable for COVID-19 prevention, such as elevator buttons


Domestic researchers have developed sensor technology capable of detecting humidity within 1 cm without touching.

The Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) announced on the 13th that it has developed high-sensitivity humidity sensor technology using molybdenum disulfide (MoS).

The humidity sensor developed by ETRI has a sensitivity of over 66,000%, which is more than 660 times more sensitive than existing sensors, and a detection time of 0.5 seconds, which is up to 12 times faster than existing commercial sensors.

The research team enhanced sensitivity by coating molybdenum disulfide into nano-sized holes drilled in an anodized aluminum substrate and then dissolving only the anodized aluminum substrate to create a sensor with a honeycomb structure.

When the sensor's constituent material forms a honeycomb structure, the specific surface area capable of detecting moisture increases, thereby enhancing sensitivity. If the sensitivity of the humidity sensor is high, it is also possible to develop a non-contact sensor capable of responding without contact.

The developed device has a size of 5 x 5 mm and can be developed as a patch-type sensor by joining multiple sensors together, and can be utilized in both rigid silicon and flexible devices.

It can be utilized not only in home appliances and industrial electronic devices but also as a radiation sensor for nuclear power plant systems, and is expected to see many applications as a technology related to disease prevention in daily life due to the recent spread of COVID-19.

Dr. Choi Chun-ki of the New Materials Research Lab at ETRI’s ICT Creative Research Institute stated, “We are currently in the process of filing a patent for this technology,” adding, “Since technology transfer is possible immediately, commercialization is possible within two years.”