Highly Sensitive and Selective Gas Sensors Using p-Type Oxide Nanoparticles Decorated ZnO Nanowire Network Sensors

Abstract

Metal oxide nanowire network structures are promising chemoresistive materials with a highly sensitive response, good stability and fast response due to their large surface area and gas accessible networked structures. In general, highly crystalline oxides nanowire (NW) networks were prepared by a thermal evaporation process. Those have lots of advantages for the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and environmental pollution gases. Especially, n-type oxide NWs such as SnO2, ZnO, and In2O3, and Ga2O3 are widely investigated due to their easy synthetization and high gas response. In other to enhance gas response of n-type oxides NWs, doping or loading of noble metals of Pt , Pd, Ag or p-type oxide semiconductor of CuO , Co3O4, NiO, and MnO2. In this study, we investigated for the detection using p-type metal oxide nanoparticles decorated ZnO NWs. Consequently, the surface modification of oxide NWs via various methods provides new approach to accomplish the selective detection of a specific gas, and after further researches, this approach could provide a new strategy in the field of gas sensors.