A comparative study on hydrostatic pressure response of sensors based on N-doped, B-doped and undoped carbon-sphere poly (vinyl alcohol) composites

We determine the conductance and capacitance sensitivity of simple hydrostatic pressure sensors based on carbon sphere (undoped, N-doped and B-doped)—poly(vinyl alcohol) composite films deposited onto interdigitated electrodes. We observe that the use of doped carbon spheres results in increased sensitivity variation with respect to pressure when compared to undoped ones, in a range near to atmospheric pressure. For higher pressures of ca. 200 kPa, however, the conductance and capacitance sensitivity of sensors based on undoped carbon spheres is significantly higher, due to a superlinear dependence of both sensitivities on pressure.