%0 Journal Article %T Strontium-Doped Hematite as a Possible Humidity Sensing Material for Soil Water Content Determination %A Jean-Marc Tulliani %A Chiara Baroni %A Laura Zavattaro %A Carlo Grignani %J Sensors %D 2013 %I MDPI AG %R 10.3390/s130912070 %X The aim of this work is to study the sensing behavior of Sr-doped hematite for soil water content measurement. The material was prepared by solid state reaction from commercial hematite and strontium carbonate heat treated at 900 ¡ãC. X-Ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and mercury intrusion porosimetry were used for microstructural characterization of the synthesized powder. Sensors were then prepared by uniaxially pressing and by screen-printing, on an alumina substrate, the prepared powder and subsequent firing in the 800¨C1,000 ¡ãC range. These sensors were first tested in a laboratory apparatus under humid air and then in an homogenized soil and finally in field. The results evidenced that the screen printed film was able to give a response for a soil matric potential from about 570 kPa, that is to say well below the wilting point in the used soil. %K hematite %K strontium hexaferrite %K humidity sensor %K soil water content determination %U http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/13/9/12070