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Influence of Humidity on the Acoustic Properties of Mushroom Mycelium Films Used as Sensitive Layers for Acoustic Humidity Sensors

Summary

This research explores using mushroom-based materials as humidity sensors. Scientists studied how films made from mushroom mycelia (root-like structures) change their physical properties when exposed to different humidity levels. The findings show these natural materials could be used to create eco-friendly humidity sensors. Impacts on everyday life: – Could lead to development of more sustainable and biodegradable sensors – Offers new applications for mushroom-based materials in technology – May help improve humidity monitoring in homes and buildings – Demonstrates potential for using natural materials in electronic devices – Could reduce reliance on synthetic materials in sensor manufacturing

Background

Humidity sensors are essential devices used in various settings like museums, cars, smart homes, and industrial plants. While many types of humidity sensors exist based on different physical principles, acoustic humidity sensors using specific films as sensitive layers represent an understudied opportunity, particularly regarding the use of films from higher fungi mycelia.

Objective

To study the influence of humidity on the density, shear elastic module, viscosity, and thickness of mycelium films from mushrooms Pleurotus eryngii and Ganoderma lucidum, and evaluate their potential use as sensitive layers for acoustic humidity sensors.

Results

The study found that increasing humidity led to increased thickness, viscosity, and density of the mycelium films, while decreasing their shear elastic module. For G. lucidum film, relative changes in thickness, shear elastic modulus, viscosity coefficient, and mass were 9.8%, 38%, 21.6%, and 15.7% respectively. For P. eryngii film, these changes were 3.6%, 19%, 37.5%, and 9%. The films’ properties fully recovered after removal from water vapor.

Conclusion

The research demonstrated that mycelium films from both mushroom species show significant and reversible changes in their physical properties when exposed to varying humidity levels, indicating their potential usefulness as sensitive layers in acoustic humidity sensors.
  • Published in:Sensors (Basel),
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 10.3390/s20092711
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