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Journal ArticleDOI

Nanowire-based gas sensors

TL;DR: In this article, the authors give an overview on the recent process of the development of nanotechnology and nanowire-based gas sensors and compare two basic approaches, top-down and bottom-up, for synthesizing nanowires.
Abstract: Gas sensors fabricated with nanowires as the detecting elements are powerful due to their many improved characteristics such as high surface-to-volume ratios, ultrasensitivity, higher selectivity, low power consumption, and fast response. This paper gives an overview on the recent process of the development of nanotechnology and nanowire-based gas sensors. The two basic approaches, top-down and bottom-up, for synthesizing nanowires are compared. The conduction mechanisms, sensing performances, configurations, and sensing principles of different nanowire gas sensors and arrays are summarized and discussed. Meanwhile, an emerging nanowires fabrication method and a self-powered nanowire pH sensor are highlighted. The scientific and technological challenges in the field are discussed at the end of the review. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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TL;DR: The most important advances with regard to fundamental research, sensing mechanisms, and application of nanostructured materials for room-temperature conductometric sensor devices are reviewed here and particular emphasis is given to the relation between the nanostructure and sensor properties in an attempt to address structure-property correlations.
Abstract: Sensor technology has an important effect on many aspects in our society, and has gained much progress, propelled by the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology. Current research efforts are directed toward developing high-performance gas sensors with low operating temperature at low fabrication costs. A gas sensor working at room temperature is very appealing as it provides very low power consumption and does not require a heater for high-temperature operation, and hence simplifies the fabrication of sensor devices and reduces the operating cost. Nanostructured materials are at the core of the development of any room-temperature sensing platform. The most important advances with regard to fundamental research, sensing mechanisms, and application of nanostructured materials for room-temperature conductometric sensor devices are reviewed here. Particular emphasis is given to the relation between the nanostructure and sensor properties in an attempt to address structure-property correlations. Finally, some future research perspectives and new challenges that the field of room-temperature sensors will have to address are also discussed.

1,096 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Carbon nanotube (CNT) based biosensors are recognized to be a next generation building block for ultra-sensitive and ultra-fast biosensing systems as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: Carbon nanotube (CNT) based biosensors are recognized to be a next generation building block for ultra-sensitive and ultra-fast biosensing systems. This article provides an overview on the recent expansion of research in the field of CNT-based biosensors. We start by first introducing the material structures and properties of CNTs. The basic and some new developed synthetic methods of CNTs are presented. This is followed by a collection of working principle and performance of different CNT-based biosensors. The roles and the processing methods of functionalized CNTs are summarized. After that, some of the practical applications and concerns in the field are addressed. What is more, the scientific and technological challenges in the field are discussed at the end of this review.

401 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors reviewed the humidity sensors based on ceramic materials and analyzed state-of-the-art techniques for producing ceramic sensors, and the key research and technological challenges in the field are discussed at the end of the review.
Abstract: We have reviewed the humidity sensors based on ceramic materials. We first discuss the operating principle of ceramic humidity sensors. This is followed by a section on the relationship between the conduction mechanism and microstructure characteristics of the sensing elements of ceramic humidity sensors. This part of the review is also focused on the methods for optimization of the microstructure of ceramic porous elements. The next section summarizes the information on the materials used for the ceramic humidity sensors fabrication and effect of dopants or hybrid compositions on the sensing ceramic-based materials. Then we analyze state-of-the-art techniques for producing ceramic sensors. The key research and technological challenges in the field are discussed at the end of the review. The review is based on 424 references published during from 1998–2013.

378 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
05 Jan 2015
TL;DR: The first fifty years of chemoresistive sensors for gas detection are reviewed, focusing on the main scientific and technological innovations that have occurred in the field over the course of these years as mentioned in this paper.
Abstract: The first fifty years of chemoresistive sensors for gas detection are here reviewed, focusing on the main scientific and technological innovations that have occurred in the field over the course of these years. A look at advances made in fundamental and applied research and leading to the development of actual high performance chemoresistive devices is presented. The approaches devoted to the synthesis of novel semiconducting materials with unprecedented nanostructure and gas-sensing properties have been also presented. Perspectives on new technologies and future applications of chemoresistive gas sensors have also been highlighted.

349 citations


Cites background from "Nanowire-based gas sensors"

  • ...When dealing with wire with lateral dimensions to the order of hundreds of nanometers, gas adsorption creates a surface depletion layer, consequently reducing the conducting channel thickness [50,66]....

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References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, eigenfrequenz der Platte infolge Vergroserung der schwingenden Masse is vermessen, so das eine empirische Eichung bei der Schichtwagung mit Schwingquarzen entfallt.
Abstract: Wird eine Fremdschicht auf eine zu Dickenscherungsschwingungen angeregte Schwingquarzplatte aufgebracht, so andert sich die Eigenfrequenz der Platte infolge Vergroserung der schwingenden Masse. Da die Frequenzanderung eines Schwingquarzes sehr genau vermessen werden kann, ergibt sich daraus eine sehr empfindliche Methode zur Wagung dunner Schichten. Massenbelegung der Fremdschicht und Frequenzanderung sind einander proportional. Die Proportionalitatskonstante last sich aus der Eigenfrequenz des Schwingquarzes berechnen, so das eine empirische Eichung bei der Schichtwagung mit Schwingquarzen entfallt. Die Genauigkeit des Schichtwageverfahrens ist in erster Linie durch die Temperaturabhangigkeit der Quarzeigenfrequenz begrenzt und betragt bei 1° C zugelassener Temperaturschwankung etwa ±4 · 10−9 g · cm−2. Das entspricht einer mittleren Dicke von 0,4 A bei der Dichte ϱ=1 g · cm−3. Das Verfahren wurde auch zur direkten Wagung einer Masse ausgenutzt (Mikrowagung). Dabei lies sich eine Genauigkeit von 10−10g erreichen.

8,035 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
14 Apr 2006-Science
TL;DR: This approach has the potential of converting mechanical, vibrational, and/or hydraulic energy into electricity for powering nanodevices.
Abstract: We have converted nanoscale mechanical energy into electrical energy by means of piezoelectric zinc oxide nanowire (NW) arrays. The aligned NWs are deflected with a conductive atomic force microscope tip in contact mode. The coupling of piezoelectric and semiconducting properties in zinc oxide creates a strain field and charge separation across the NW as a result of its bending. The rectifying characteristic of the Schottky barrier formed between the metal tip and the NW leads to electrical current generation. The efficiency of the NW-based piezoelectric power generator is estimated to be 17 to 30%. This approach has the potential of converting mechanical, vibrational, and/or hydraulic energy into electricity for powering nanodevices.

6,692 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
17 Aug 2001-Science
TL;DR: The small size and capability of these semiconductor nanowires for sensitive, label-free, real-time detection of a wide range of chemical and biological species could be exploited in array-based screening and in vivo diagnostics.
Abstract: Boron-doped silicon nanowires (SiNWs) were used to create highly sensitive, real-time electrically based sensors for biological and chemical species. Amine- and oxide-functionalized SiNWs exhibit pH-dependent conductance that was linear over a large dynamic range and could be understood in terms of the change in surface charge during protonation and deprotonation. Biotin-modified SiNWs were used to detect streptavidin down to at least a picomolar concentration range. In addition, antigen-functionalized SiNWs show reversible antibody binding and concentration-dependent detection in real time. Lastly, detection of the reversible binding of the metabolic indicator Ca2+ was demonstrated. The small size and capability of these semiconductor nanowires for sensitive, label-free, real-time detection of a wide range of chemical and biological species could be exploited in array-based screening and in vivo diagnostics.

5,841 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
09 Jan 1998-Science
TL;DR: Studies carried out with different conditions and catalyst materials confirmed the central details of the growth mechanism and suggest that well-established phase diagrams can be used to predict rationally catalyst materials and growth conditions for the preparation of nanowires.
Abstract: A method combining laser ablation cluster formation and vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth was developed for the synthesis of semiconductor nanowires. In this process, laser ablation was used to prepare nanometer-diameter catalyst clusters that define the size of wires produced by VLS growth. This approach was used to prepare bulk quantities of uniform single-crystal silicon and germanium nanowires with diameters of 6 to 20 and 3 to 9 nanometers, respectively, and lengths ranging from 1 to 30 micrometers. Studies carried out with different conditions and catalyst materials confirmed the central details of the growth mechanism and suggest that well-established phase diagrams can be used to predict rationally catalyst materials and growth conditions for the preparation of nanowires.

4,405 citations