Real time respiration monitoring using a highly sensitive wearable mesoporous ZnO@KIT-5 humidity sensor

Respiration stands as a vital process reflecting physiological and pathological human health status. Exhaled breath analysis offers a facile, non-invasive, swift, and cost-effective approach for diagnosing and monitoring diseases by detecting concentration changes of specific biomarkers. A highly efficient humidity sensor derived from hydrothermally engineered Zinc Oxide incorporated in mesoporous Korean institute of Technology sensor (ZnO/KIT-5) was designed for first time for real-time monitoring of human breath pattern. Compared with other mesoporous based materials the ZnO/KIT-5 exhibits an excellent ~ 4.5 orders resistance changes with outstanding linearity, quick response time (18s), rapid recovery time (22s), minor hysteresis (1.2%), great repeatability along with remarkable stability (1.8%) in 11 – 98% RH. The resistance variation of the sensor at distinct RH values were analyzed for the humidity-sensing behavior. This research will open new doors for applying ZnO/KIT-5 hybrid nanocomposite for production of efficient RH sensors. Here, we establish a convenient, lightweight & conductive porous siliceous network as the humidity sensor that is further employed for respiration monitoring. The capability of this smart sensor to differentiate between distinct physical states in humans, suggests that it has utility in various respiratory diseases diagnosis such as asthma, bronchitis, tuberculosis. This study developed a breathable, skin-friendly humidity sensors showcasing its potential for integration into wearable devices.