A Miniaturized Nickel Oxide Thermistor via Aerosol Jet Technology

Sensors (Basel). 2017 Nov 12;17(11):2602. doi: 10.3390/s17112602.

Abstract

In this study, a miniaturized thermistor sensor was produced using the Aerosol Jet printing process for temperature sensing applications. A nickel oxide nanoparticle ink with a large temperature coefficient of resistance was fabricated. The thermistor was printed with a circular NiO thin film in between the two parallel silver conductive tracks on a cutting tool insert. The printed thermistor, which has an adjustable dimension with a submillimeter scale, operates over a range of 30-250 °C sensitively (B value of ~4310 K) without hysteretic effects. Moreover, the thermistor may be printed on a 3D surface through the Aerosol Jet printing process, which has increased capability for wide temperature-sensing applications.

Keywords: Aerosol Jet; nickel oxide; printed thermistor; printing technology; temperature sensing.