Nitrogen oxides and ammonia sensing characteristics of SILAR deposited ZnO thin film

Pure and Sn, Ni doped ZnO thin films were deposited on glass substrates using a novel successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method at room temperature. Microstructures of the deposited films were optimized by adjusting growth parameters. The variation in resistivity of the ZnO film sensors was performed with rapid photothermal processing (RPP). The effect of rapid photothermal processing was found to have an important role in ZnO based sensor sensitivity to NO₂, NH₃. While the undoped ZnO film surface exhibited higher NH₃ sensitivity than that of NO₂, an enhanced NO₂ sensitivity was noticed for the ZnO films doped with Sn and higher NH₃ sensitivity was obtained by Ni doping.     

Enhanced NO2 gas sensing properties of WO3 nanorods encapsulated with ZnO

The influence of the encapsulation of WO₃ nanorods with ZnO on the NO₂ gas sensing properties was examined. WO₃-core/ZnO-shell nanorods were fabricated by a two-step process comprising the catalyst-free thermal evaporation of a mixture of WO₃ and graphite powders in an oxidizing atmosphere and atomic layer deposition of ZnO. Multiple networked WO₃-core/ZnO-shell nanorod sensors showed the response of 281?% at 5 ppm NO₂ at 300?°C. This response value was approximately 9 times larger than that of bare WO₃ nanorod sensors at 5 ppm NO₂. The response values obtained from the WO₃-core/ZnO-shell nanorods in this study were more than 5 times higher than those obtained previously from the SnO₂-core/ZnO-shell nanofibers at the same NO₂ concentration range. The significant enhancement in the response of WO₃ nanorods to NO₂ gas by encapsulating them with ZnO can be accounted for based on the space-charge model.     

UV-LED Photo-activated Chemical Gas Sensors: A Review

Metal oxide semiconductor gas sensors operating under UV irradiation have been validated for detection of variety of chemicals in wide ranges of concentrations at room temperature. This article reviews recent advances in UV-activated metal oxide gas sensors in general and outlines the operating principles and sensing performance of UV-LED based sensors in particular. The sensing properties of several metal oxide semiconductors such as ZnO, TiO₂, SnO₂, In₂O₃, and metal oxide composites under UV-LED irradiation are individually presented and their advantages and shortcomings toward various gases are compared. Moreover, it is demonstrated that for the UV-LED based gas sensors, the performance can be improved by optimizing the sensor platform design and UV source parameters such as wavelength and power intensity. Further, it is illustrated that the gas sensing selectivity can be tuned by modifying the semiconductor layer structure or adjusting appropriate wavelength to an optimal value.     

The light-enhanced NO2 sensing properties of porous silicon gas sensors at room temperature

The NO2 gas sensing behavior of porous silicon（PS） is studied at room temperature with and without ultraviolet（UV） light radiation.The PS layer is fabricated by electrochemical etching in an HF-based solution on a p ＋-type silicon substrate.Then,Pt electrodes are deposited on the surface of the PS to obtain the PS gas sensor.The NO2 sensing properties of the PS with different porosities are investigated under UV light radiation at room temperature.The measurement results show that the PS gas sensor has a much higher response sensitivity and faster response-recovery characteristics than NO2 under the illumination.The sensitivity of the PS sample with the largest porosity to 1 ppm NO2 is 9.9 with UV light radiation,while it is 2.4 without UV light radiation.We find that the ability to absorb UV light is enhanced with the increase in porosity.The PS sample with the highest porosity has a larger change than the other samples.Therefore,the effect of UV radiation on the NO2 sensing properties of PS is closely related to the porosity.     

Humidity sensing properties of Pd-doped ZnO nanotetrapods

Pd²⁺-doped ZnO nanotetrapods were prepared and studied for the humidity detection application. The humidity sensors developed were featured by combination of a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) as a transducer and Pd²⁺-doped ZnO nanotetrapods as a sensing element. The ZnO nanotetrapods were synthesized by evaporating highly pure zinc pellets (99.999%) at 900 °C in air and PdCl₂ was doped on by traditional solution mixing process. Then the mixed solution distributed onto the electrode surfaces of the quartz crystal at room temperature. Pd²⁺-doped ZnO nanotetrapods were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The experimental results indicated that the response of the sensors varied with the different dosage PdCl₂. Linear regression algorithm was used for evincing the highly linear behavior of the Pd²⁺-doped ZnO nanotetrapods sensor. In this humidity sensing system, the Pd²⁺-doped ZnO nanotetrapods sensing material coated on the gold electrode of QCM showed good sensitivity (∼74.24324 Hz/%RH (relative humidity)), reproducibility, linearity (R² = −0.98834), short response and recovery time (less than 5 s).     

氧化钨纳米线-单壁碳纳米管复合型气敏元件的室温NO2敏感性能与机理

利用溶剂热法合成了一维的氧化钨纳米线, 通过掺入适量单壁碳纳米管(SWNT)制备了基于氧化钨纳米线-SWNT 复合结构的室温气敏元件并评价了其对NO₂气体的室温敏感性能. 利用X射线与扫描电子显微镜表征了材料的微结构, 结果表明, 合成的氧化钨纳米线具有单斜的W₁₈O₄₉结构, 复合材料中SWNT被包埋在氧化钨纳米线中间. 气敏性能测试结果表明, 氧化钨纳米线-SWNT复合结构气敏元件在室温下对NO₂气体表现出了高的灵敏度和超快的响应特性; 较低的SWNT掺入量对获得好的气敏性能有利. 分析了基于复合结构材料气敏元件的可能的气敏机理, 认为元件良好的室温敏感性能与SWNT掺入在复合结构材料中引入大量的贯穿气孔和p-n异质结有关.     

Sonochemical synthesis, size controlling and gas sensing properties of NiO nanoparticles

Nanoparticles of NiO (NP-NiO) were prepared by a novel sonochemical route from Ni acetate and sodium hydroxide without any requirement of calcinations steps at high temperature and without surfactants. Drop casting of the nanocrystals onto alumina substrates allowed the fabrication of gas sensing devices, which were tested towards NO₂ and CO and showed promising results. At low working temperature, the NiO nanoparticles based sensors are selective to nitrogen oxide; in fact a good sensitivity is shown at 200 °C at low concentration (2 ppm), while at temperature above 350 °C, high responses are obtained for carbon monoxide. The results obtained are stimulating for further developing of NP-NiO based sensor devices.     

Preparation and characterisation of ZnFe2O4/ZnO polymer nanocomposite sensors for the detection of alcohol vapours

During the last 10 years, a large interest has developed in the preparation of nanocomposite structures by embedding inorganic nanoparticles into polymeric materials. These materials combine the properties of the inorganic fillers with the processability and flexibility of polymers. The versatility of polymer nanocomposite systems is of special interest to the gas sensor industry where arrays of polymer/carbon black composites have been used to identify gases and odours. These polymer gas sensors provide selectivity based on their chemical structures and operate at room temperature, which provide advantages over thick-film metal oxide gas sensors. ZnFe₂O₄ and ZnO have excellent stability, high sensitivity, low fabrication complexity and moderate operating temperatures, which are ideal properties for a gas sensing material. In this work, the development of a thick-film ZnFe₂O₄/ZnO sensor, which operates at room temperature and a drop-coated conducting polymer composite sensor containing 30 w/w% ZnFe₂O₄/ZnO nanoparticles is discussed. The sensors were tested in a fully automated test rig and showed promising results for the detection of alcohol vapours.     

Mixed-potential-type NOx sensor based on YSZ and zinc oxide sensing electrode

Electrochemical sensors using tubular yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and oxide sensing electrode (SE) were fabricated and examined for NO_x detection at high temperatures. The mixed-potential-type NO_x sensor using ZnO-SE gave the highest sensitivity to NO_x among other single-type oxides tested as SEs in the temperature range of 600–700 °C. The response of the ZnO-attached device was a linear for the logarithm of NO₂ (NO) concentrations from 40 to 450 ppm. The sensing mechanism of the sensor was discussed on the basis of the gas adsorption-desorption behavior, the catalytic activity data, and electrochemical behavior for oxides examined.     

Dependence of NO2 sensitivity on thickness of oxide-sensing electrodes for mixed-potential-type sensor using stabilized zirconia

The effect of thickness of oxide-sensing electrode (SE) on NO₂ sensitivity of the planar sensor based on yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) was examined at high temperatures. The sensitivity of the sensor increased with decreasing thickness of SE, and the highest sensitivity was obtained by using the thinnest layer of Cr₂O₃–SE (2.7 μm) at 700 °C. In the case of NiO–SE, the highest sensitivity was observed for the sensor using the 4-μm-thick SE even at a high temperature of 850 °C. Based on the results of the measurements for the complex impedances, the polarization curves, and the gas-phase NO₂ decomposition catalysis, it was confirmed that the catalytic activity to the gas-phase NO₂ decomposition on the oxide–SE matrix played an important role in determining the NO₂ sensitivity of the present sensors.     

Synthesis and gas sensing properties of high porosity n-type nickel ferrite thin film assisted by altering magnetic field

NiFe₂O₄ thin film with high porosity based gas sensors had been prepared and their microstructure and gas sensing property were investigated. The sensing layer, consisted of perpendicular overlapped NiFe₂O₄ chains which were induced by altering magnetic field to self-assemble, had high porosity. The phase character and porous microstructure were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and a polarizing optical microscopy. The gas sensing tests results indicated that the sensor presented a high sensitivity to NH₃ at 150 °C, and was selective to NH₃ below 200 °C. The large porosity microstructure should benefit the reaction between target gas and sensing material and the detection of low concentration gas at low working temperature. In repeatability tests, the response and recovery time values had only narrow fluctuations.     

The sensitivity and dynamic response of field ionization gas sensor based on ZnO nanorods

Field ionization gas sensors based on ZnO nanorods (50–300 nm in diameter, and 3–8 μm in length) with and without a buffer layer were fabricated, and the influence of the orientation of nano-ZnO on the ionization response of devices was discussed, including the sensitivity and dynamic response of the ZnO nanorods with preferential orientation. The results indicated that ZnO nanorods as sensor anode could dramatically decrease the breakdown voltage. The XRD and SEM images illustrated that nano-ZnO with a ZnO buffer layer displayed high c-axis orientation, which helps to significantly reduce the breakdown voltage. Device A based on ZnO nanorods with a ZnO buffer layer could distinguish toluene and acetone. The dynamic responses of device A to the NO _x compounds presented the sensitivity of 0.045 ± 0.007 ppm/pA and the response speed within 17–40 s, and indicated a linear relationship between NO _x concentration and current response at low NO _x concentrations. In addition, the dynamic responses to benzene, isopropyl alcohol, ethanol, and methanol reveals that the device has higher sensitivity to gas with larger static polarizability and lower ionization energy.     

Temperature dependence of NO2 sensitivity of YSZ-based mixed potential type sensor attached with NiO sensing electrode

A mixed potential type yttria-stabilized zirconia-based sensor using NiO sensing electrode and Pt reference electrode was fabricated, and its NO₂ sensing characteristics were examined at various operating temperatures in the range of 700–950 °C. It was observed that the sensitivity to NO₂ strongly depends on the operating temperature of the sensor; the sensitivity decreases with increasing operating temperature, while the response/recovery rates increase. To rationalize this temperature dependence of NO₂ response, polarization curves and complex impedances of the sensor were measured in the base gas and in the sample gas (400 ppm NO₂?+?base gas) at various operating temperatures. It turned out that the operating temperature had a strong influence on the rate of anodic reaction of oxygen; the increased rate of anodic reaction leads to lower NO₂ sensitivity and quicker response/recovery at higher operating temperature.     

Preparation of WO3 nanoparticles and application to NO2 sensor

WO₃ nanoparticles were prepared by evaporating tungsten filament under a low pressure of oxygen gas, namely, by a gas evaporation method. The crystal structure, morphology, and NO₂ gas sensing properties of WO₃ nanoparticles deposited under various oxygen pressures and annealed at different temperatures were investigated. The particles obtained were identified as monoclinic WO₃. The particle size increased with increasing oxygen pressure and with increasing annealing temperature. The sensitivity increased with decreasing particle size, irrespective of the oxygen pressure during deposition and annealing temperature. The highest sensitivity of 4700 to NO₂ at 1 ppm observed in this study was measured at a relatively low operating temperature of 50 °C; this sensitivity was observed for a sensor made of particles as small as 36 nm.     

ZnO–SnO2 branch–stem nanowires based on a two-step process: Synthesis and sensing capability

ZnO–SnO₂ branch–stem nanostructures were realized on a basis of a two-step process. In step 1, SnO₂-stem nanowires were synthesized. In step 2, ZnO-branch nanowires were successfully grown on the SnO₂-stem nanowires through a simple evaporation technique. We have pre-deposited thin Au layers on the surface of SnO₂ nanowire stems and subsequently evaporated Zn powders on the nanowires. The ZnO branches, which sprouted from the SnO₂ stems, had diameters in a range of 30–35 nm. As-synthesized branches were of single crystalline hexagonal ZnO structures. Since the branch tips were comprised of Au-containing nanoparticles, the Au-catalyzed vapor–liquid–solid growth mechanism was more likely to control the growth process of the ZnO branches. To test a potential use of ZnO–SnO₂ branch–stem nanostructures in chemical gas sensors, their sensing performances with respect to NO₂ gas were investigated, showing the promising potential in chemical gas sensors.     

Structures of nanowires with Zn-ZnO:CuO junctions for detecting ethanol vapors

The synthesis of ZnO-ZnO:CuO structures in the form of overlapping layers of nanowires of pure and copper oxide-doped zinc oxide is described. These structures are tested as ethanol vapor sensors. The following two-stage method is used to form ZnO:CuO nanowires. At the first stage, ZnO nanowires are formed by chemical deposition from a solution. At the second stage, arrays of ZnO nanowires are coated with a copper-containing layer. The CuO content on the surface of ZnO nanowires is changed by varying the number of immersions in a Cu(NO₃)₂ solution. The formed structures are studied by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and energy dispersive X-ray analysis. The interaction of the grown sensor structures with ethanol vapors is analyzed by measuring the potential difference between the layers of pure zinc oxide and copper oxide-modified zinc oxide in the temperature range 190–300°C. The response of the sensor is investigated at various ethanol vapor concentrations and detection temperatures.     

Graphene-based nitrogen dioxide gas sensors

In this study, we demonstrated that graphene could selectively absorb/desorb NO_x molecules at room temperature. Chemical doping with NO₂ molecules changed the conductivity of the graphene layers, which was quantified by monitoring the current–voltage characteristics at various NO₂ gas concentrations. The adsorption rate was found to be more rapid than the desorption rate, which can be attributed to the reaction occurred on the surface of the graphene layer. The sensitivity was 9% when an ambient of 100 ppm NO₂ was used. Graphene-based gas sensors showed fast response, good reversibility, selectivity and high sensitivity. Optimization of the sensor design and integration with UV-LEDs and Silicon microelectronics will open the door for the development of nano-sized gas sensors that are extremely sensitive.     

Ammonia sensing characteristics of ZnO nanowires studied by quartz crystal microbalance

The ZnO nanowires have been prepared and studied as the sensing element for the detection of ammonia. The ZnO nanowires were first synthesized by evaporating high purity zinc pellets at 900 °C and then distributed onto the electrode surfaces of quartz crystals at room temperatures. Gas sensitive properties of ZnO nanowires layer were studied in terms of the quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) at room temperature. It is found that the obtained response of the sensors varied with the thickness of the ZnO nanowires layer. ZnO nanowires showed high sensitivity to ammonia in the range of 40-1000 ppm. The response time of the sensor was as fast as ∼5 s at any concentration (40-1000 ppm) of ammonia gas. The ZnO nanowires-coated sensors have a good frequency stability and reproducibility. All results demonstrated that the ZnO nanowire was a potential gas sensing material for practical use.     

Facile synthesis of SnO2–ZnO core–shell nanowires for enhanced ethanol-sensing performance

The design of core–shell heteronanostructures is powerful tool to control both the gas selectivity and the sensitivity due to their hybrid properties. In this work, the SnO₂–ZnO core–shell nanowires (NWs) were fabricated via two-step process comprising the thermal evaporation of the single crystalline SnO₂ NWs core and the spray-coating of the grainy polycrystalline ZnO shell for enhanced ethanol sensing performance. The as-obtained products were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and photoluminescence. The ethanol gas-sensing properties of pristine SnO₂ and ZnO–SnO₂ core–shell NW sensors were studied and compared. The gas response to 500 ppm ethanol of the core–shell NW sensor increased to 33.84, which was 12.5-fold higher than that of the pristine SnO₂ NW sensor. The selectivity of the core–shell NW sensor also improved. The response to 100 ppm ethanol was about 14.1, whereas the response to 100 ppm liquefied petroleum gas, NH₃, H₂, and CO was smaller, and ranged from 2.5 to 5.3. This indicates that the core–shell heterostructures have great potential for use as gas sensing materials.     

The effect of the addition of carbon black and the increase in film thickness on the sensing layers of ZnO / ZnFe2O4 in polymer thick film gas sensors

The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of increasing the carbon black and the sensing layer thickness on the response of a sensor. Three sensors of 60/40 mol% ZnO/Fe₂O₃ with different percentages of carbon black (1.5, 2 and 2.5 wt%) were fabricated on alumina substrates and copper thin film electrodes. The base resistance of the 1.5 wt% carbon black sensor was while for the 2 wt% carbon black sensors it was . The lowest base resistance was recorded with the 2.5 wt% carbon black sensor to be . The sensors were used to detect propanol in the concentration range 2500–5000 ppm, increasing with a step size of 500 ppm, at room temperature. The responses of the sensors were determined as ((R_gas−R_air)/R_air)×100 while the sensitivity was calculated as the slope of the graphs. The sensitivity was increased as the amount of carbon black decreased. The sensitivities of the sensors to propanol at room temperature were 0.0105, 0.005 and 0.002%/ppm for the three sensors. On the other hand, four sensors have different thickness were fabricated used by the same manner. It was found that the response of the sensor increased relatively as the thicknesses of the sensing layer decreased. Results show that the one-layer sensor has the highest response, followed by a decrease in the responses for sensors with higher numbers of layers, 2, 3, 4 and 5 successively.