A thermal sensor and switch based on a plasma polymer/ZnO suspended nanobelt bimorphstructure

Abstract

The combination of design and subsequent fabrication of organic/inorganic nanostructurescreates an effective way to combine the favorable traits of both to achieve a desired deviceperformance. We demonstrate a miniature electrical read-out, and a sensitive temperaturesensor/switch, based on a ZnO nanobelt/plasma-polymerized benzonitrile bimorphstructure. A new read-out technique based on the change in the electric current flowingthrough the bimorph and the contact pad has been employed, replacing the conventionalcumbersome piezoresistive method or tedious optical alignment. The thermal sensordemonstrated here has great prospects for thermal switching and triggered detectionowing to the relative ease in the fabrication of arrays and the direct electricalread-out.