INTER-DIGITAL CAPACITOR SENSOR FOR
MEASURING PERMITTIVITY OF FLUID
Neny Kurniawati, Melania S. Muntini
Physics Department, Mathematic and Natural Science Faculty, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember
Jl. Arief Rahman Hakim, Surabaya, 60111
E-mail: nenyphysics@windowslive.com
Abstract — This paper discusses the results of
research utilization Interdigital Capasitive Sensor for
measuring the permittivity value of fluid. RCL meters
type am 6303 Philip used to calibrated capacitor senso.
Sensor testing done by measurement of the
capacitance value of tap water, acetone, salt solutions,
sugar solution, and cooking oil. On a solution of salts
and sugars do with variation concentration of solution.
Any material permittivity enables to distinguish
between materials based on these parameters. IDCS
are made in this research is designed to be able to
distinguish fluid using the parameters permittivity.
According to the dielectric constant table [6] the actual
relative permittivity of the acetone is 17.7. The result
obtained by us is 18.3 with the total error 7 % which
is a good approximation of the actual value. From the
addition of a solution of salt and sugar concentration
cause changes value changes the value of the relative
permittivity of materials that are measurable. A water
molecule is polar aligning with local field ion so it
would raise the value of the permittivity of the
material when added electrolyte (salt) and will go
down as a non-electrolyte solution added (sugar).
I. INTRODUCTION
Permittivity is the value of the resistance in the form
of an electric field through the media, by knowing the
values of permittivity of materials we can find out the
electrical properties of these materials. The permittivity of
a material is closely related to the material capacitance.
Therefore, in this study used Interdigital Capacitive
Sensors (IDCS). IDCS is a capacitor with electrodes that
are configured on a periodic basis. Inter-digital capacitors
(IDC) have been involved in many sensing applications,
for example inter-digital sensors are used in
telecommunications, biotechnology, chemical sensing,
dielectric imaging, acoustic sensors and micro-
electromechanical systems (MEMS) applications [1-3].
Capacitive sensing is ideally suited for characterizing
dielectric materials due to the linear relationship with the
relative permittivity (dielectric constant) of the material,
there being no need to access the central conductor of the
wire, and independence from the applied voltage [4].
Permittivity ()
Permittivity is a measure of the obstacles in the form
of an electric field through the media. It is defined as the
ratio between electric displacement (D) in the media and
the intensity of the electric field (E) producing it. This is
an important electrical parameters of materials, especially
in the case of an insulator.
ε = D/E
Permittivity in the units of the international system of
units is the Farads per meter (Fm– 1).
The permittivity of the medium illustrates the number
of flux lines per unit charge is generated in the medium.
High permittivity indicates a high level of polarization in
the medium and more of the electric flux to create the
opposite of the electric field. Therefore, the net field
strength in low dielectric media if high permittivity [5].
Working Principle of Inter-digital Capacitor Sensor
Inter-digital capacitor sensor that we make is a comb
like periodic pattern of electrodes deposited on a PCB. As
shown on Fig.1 the sensor consists of two electrodes in
the xy plane, each electrode consists of N fingers.
By applying different potentials on the interdigitated
electrodes V1 and V2 the generated electric field travels
from one electrode, penetrating the dielectric film, as well
as the substrate underneath the electrodes, to the other
electrode. The capacitance measured between the
electrodes depends on the dielectric constants of the
substrate and the dielectric film. Fringing capacitance
between the interdigitated electrodes depends on
electrodes width, where transverse capacitance depends
on the electrode’s thickness, and the distance between the
adjacent electrodes. When the dielectric film is an
isotropic material, the unit cell capacitance per length is
given by the formula:
C = ε (ε + ε ) + 2ε ε (1)
Where:
ε - dielectric constant in the free space
ε - dielectric constant of the substrate (liquid)
ε - dielectric constant of the dielectric film (copper)
k - complete elliptic integral of the first kind
t - elecrode’s thickness
a - elecrode’s width
b – distance between electrodes
By making full use of the symmetry and neglecting
the capacitances of the edges, the total capacitance of the
IDC is calculated by:
C = C (N − 1)L (2)
Where:
N - number of unit cells the capacitor
L - length of the electrode fingers [5]
 V1
V2
(a) Interdigital Capacitor (IDC)
Elektroda berlawanan
r
k
(b) Cross-section of a IDC
Fig. 1 Design of IDCS
Design development of IDCS are still performed to
this day to get precision in the measurement results. This
research is expected to accrue new design more effective
and precision in determining the value of the permittivity
of the material.
II. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Instrumentation and Materials
Measuring instruments used for the IDCs sensor
system: PM 6303 RCL meter Phillip type for detecting
changes in capacitance value, and a digital balance. Test
material used in the test is tap water, cooking oil, acetone,
salt water and sugar water.
The execution procedure
Step 1. Design and Fabrication of IDCS
At this step IDCS use PCB design as the base
material. IDCs specifications made are as follows:
- The width of the electrode (a) 2 mm
- The distance between the electrodes (b) 2 cm
- Electrode length (L) 5 cm
- 5 electrodes on each side
- 0.01 electrodes mm thickness (the thickness of the
copper layer on the PCB)
Step 2. Sensor Testing
The sensor tested by giving a direct contact between
the sensors against the test material (Fig.2). Goal at this
step was to detected capacitances of each test substance,
and saw changes of the capacitance value when given a
particular treatment. The provision of treatment is the
addition concentration in salt solution and sugar solution.
The capacitance measurements using the RCL meter.
Fig. 2 IDCS
Figure 3. Sensor Testing
The PM 6303 RCL meter was used for measurements
of resistances, capacitances and inductances. It allows to
make high precision measurements of passive
components. The component under the investigation is
directly connected to the instrument via test cable with
Kelvin clips.
The instrument allows to measure following
parameters:
- Quality factor Q
- Dissipation factor D
- Parallel resistance Rp
- Series resistance Rs
- Impedance Z
- Parallel capacitance Cp (or parallel inductance Lp)
- Series capacitance Cs (or series inductance Ls)
- Phase angle Φ
in this research we just measurement parallel capasitance,
because design of IDCS were parallel electrode’s.
Step 3. Calculation Value Relative permittivity
Data obtained from the capacitance measurement at
the previous stage then calculated the value of the
permittivity of the fluid, using a modification of the
equation (1) and (2).
=( )
(3)
= (4)
 ⃓
⃓
⃓
⃓ 2 2
⃓ ⎛ 1− ⎞ ⎛ 1− ⎞
⃓
⃓ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟
⃓⎛ ⎞
Δ =⃓
⃓ ⎜ Δ ⎟ + ⎜− ⎟ ⎜
Δt⎟ + ⎜
⎟
Δ ⎟ (5)
⃓ ⎜ 2 ⎟ ⎜
⃓
⃓ 1− ⎜ 1−
2
⎟ ⎜ 1−
2
⎟
⃓
⃓ +2 ⎜ ⎛ ⎞ ⎟ ⎜ ⎛ ⎞ ⎟
⃓ ⎜ +2 ⎟ ⎜ +2 ⎟
⃓⎝ ⎠ ⎜ ⎟ ⎜ ⎟

⎷ ⎝ ⎝ ⎠ ⎠ ⎝ ⎝ ⎠ ⎠

Table 1. Results of measurements and calculations of Permittivity

Substance Ctotal [F] Cuc (F) ɛk (Fm–1) Error (%)
-7 -7
Tap water 3.04  10 6.75  10 60884.9 7
-6 -6
water + 5 gr salt 3.63  10 8.06  10 726657.3 7
-5 -5
water + 15 gr salt 2.75  10 6.12  10 5518927.8 7
-5 -5
Water + 25 gr salt 2.61  10 5.80  10 5226981.0 7
-5 -5
Water + 35 gr salt 3.06  10 6.79  10 6124199.7 7
-5 -5
Water + 45 gr salt 3.55  10 7.90  10 7120292.9 7
-5 -5
Water + 55 gr salt 3.98  10 8.85  10 7977427.4 7
-7 -7
Water + 5 gr sugar 2.66  10 5.92  10 53369.1 7
-7 -7
Water + 15 gr sugar 2.43  10 5.40  10 48712.7 7
-7 -7
Water + 25 gr sugar 2.21  10 4.91  10 44290.1 7
-7 -7
Water + 35 gr sugar 1.67  10 3.715  10 33440.6 7
-7 -7
Water + 45 gr sugar 1.72  10 3.83  10 34496.1 7
-7 -7
Water + 55 gr sugar 1.68  10 3.73  10 33641.0 7
-10 -10
Aseton 1.06  10 2.36  10 18.3 7
-11 -11
Cooking oil 1.96  10 4.36  10 0.9 11

Where Ctotal is capacitances measurement results and Cuc

is relatively capacitance materials. To computer the
elliptic integral of the first kind used the online calculator
[11].

III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The obtained data presented in the Table 1 and in the
Fig 4 and Fig. 5. The total error of the permittivity is
computed using the equation 5.
The obtained data suggest the change in the
relative permittivity of the fluids according to
different amount of salt and sugar added to the water.
The trend is raising for the salt (the more salt added to
the water the bigger the relative permittivity is) and Fig. 4 The results of the measurement of the relative
decreasing for the sugar (the more sugar added to the permittivity of different liquids
water the smaller the permittivity). Both trends are
presented on the Fig. 5.
Change the value of concentration cause changes
relative permittivity values measured materials. Change
the value of the permittivity of the electric field
generated by each ion which dominates the terrain
beyond [8].
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After the test data was obtained by tests preserve the
permittivity value standard is approaching on the liquid
acetone (18.3), and from the addition of a solution of salt
and sugar concentration cause changes value changes
the value of the relative permittivity of materials
that are measurable. A water molecule is polar aligning
with local field ion so it would raise the value of the
permittivity of the material when added electrolyte
(salt) and will go down as a nonelectrolyte solution
added (sugar).

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to thank anonymous
reviewers for constructive comments which improved
the clarity of the manuscript.