Zeolite-Based Fast-Responding Sensors for Respiratory Rate Monitoring
Wearable electrical sensors based on zeolites can be used for breath monitoring. The high silicon content of clinoptilolite makes this type of zeolite very adequate for fabricating sensitive water sensors. In addition to sensitivity, response fastness also represents a sensor characteristic of fundamental importance for breath monitoring. Here, the response fastness of a clinoptilolite-based water sensor has been evaluated by measuring the current intensity behavior upon exposition to a constant humidity atmosphere (75%). In particular, the clinoptilolite surface has been biased with a sinusoidal signal (20 Vpp, 5 kHz), and the true-RMS current intensity value has been recorded during exposition to the constant humidity atmosphere. Since current intensity is proportional to the adsorbed water concentration (only hydrated cations are charge carriers) a kinetic analysis has been possible. The clinoptilolite dehydration kinetics in a dry atmosphere have been evaluated too. According to this kinetic analysis, water adsorption is described by a Lagergren pseudo-first-order model with a rate constant of (58.6 ± 0.9)·10−4 min−1, while desorption in dry air follows a first-order kinetic model with a specific rate of (202.7 ± 0.3)·10−4 min−1 at 25 °C.