Electron Properties Investigation of the Near-Surface Region in Crystalline Semiconductors Using the Transverse Acoustoelectric Effect

The paper presents the acoustoelectric phenomenon in a layered structure: piezoelectric waveguide – semiconductor. The publication presents an original acoustic method for determining the electrical and electron parameters of the subsurface area in crystalline semiconductors. The method is based on the so-called transverse acoustoelectric effect realized in a layer system: piezoelectric waveguide with Rayleigh surface acoustic wave – semiconductor. The paper discusses the physical foundations of the transverse acoustoelectric effect in the piezoelectric – semiconductor layer system, taking into account the distinctness of the physical properties of the semiconductor near-surface region in relation to its volumetric properties. The work covers many experimental studies of the near-surface region of semiconductors. The original method was presented to determine such surface parameters as: surface potential, surface conductivity, mobility of carriers in the subsurface area, life time of charge carriers in surface states. By means of the acoustic method the following semiconductors have been extensively tested: indium phosphide InP and gallium phosphide GaP. These semiconductors are one of the main semiconductors of group III-V, which are the basis of modern photonics, optoelectronics as well as integrated optics. The work also includes an analysis of the measurement possibilities of the developed acoustic method and its limitations, as well as an analysis of the accuracy of the obtained values of the parameters of the subsurface area of crystalline semiconductors

Analysis of the Saw System with the PANI + Nafion Sensing Structure for Detection of Low Concentration Carbon Monoxide

The paper presents a measuring system based on two resonators with a SAW acoustic surface wave. One of the resonators contains a sensor structure consisting of a Nafion layer with a PANI polyaniline nanolayer deposited on it. The sensor structure was tested for carbon monoxide, with a very low concentration (5, 10, 15, 20 ppm) in the atmosphere of synthetic air. The structure sensitivity was tested for two different PANI thicknesses: (100 and 180 nm). The tests were carried out for two different temperatures: 308 K and 315 K. The investigations shows that the measuring system used with the acoustic surface wave together with the proposed sensing layers is sensitive to the presence of low concentration carbon monoxide molecules in the atmosphere of synthetic air

Impact of Temperature and UV Irradiation on Dynamics of NO2 Sensors Based on ZnO Nanostructures

The main object of this study is the improvement of the dynamics of NO2 sensors based on ZnO nanostructures. Investigations presented in this paper showed that the combination of temperature and ultraviolet (UV) activation of the sensors can significantly decrease the sensor response and regeneration times. In comparison with the single activation method (elevated temperature or UV), these times for 1 ppm of NO2 decreased from about 10 min (or more) to less than 40 s. In addition, at the optimal conditions (200 °C and UV), sensors were very stable, were fully scalable (in the range on NO2 concentration of 1–20 ppm) and baseline drift was significantly reduced. Furthermore, in this paper, extensive studies of the influence of temperature and carrier gas (nitrogen and air) on NO2 sensing properties of the ZnO nanostructures were conducted. The NO2 sensing mechanisms of the sensors operating at elevated temperatures and under UV irradiation were also discussed. Our study showed that sensor responses to NO2 and response/regeneration times are comparable from sensor to sensor in air and nitrogen conditions, which suggests that the proposed simple technology connected with well-chosen operation conditions is repeatable. The estimated limit of detection of the sensors is within the level of ≈800 ppb in nitrogen and ≈700 ppb in air

Mechanisms of NO₂ Detection in Hybrid Structures Containing Reduced Graphene Oxide: A Review

The sensitive detection of harmful gases, in particular nitrogen dioxide, is very important for our health and environment protection. Therefore, many papers on sensor materials used for NO2 detection have been published in recent years. Materials based on graphene and reduced graphene oxide deserve special attention, as they exhibit excellent sensor properties compared to the other materials. In this paper, we present the most recent advances in rGO hybrid materials developed for NO2 detection. We discuss their properties and, in particular, the mechanism of their interaction with NO2. We also present current problems occuring in this field

Influence of External Gaseous Environments on the Electrical Properties of ZnO Nanostructures Obtained by a Hydrothermal Method

This paper deals with experimental investigations of ZnO nanostructures, consisting of a mixture of nanoparticles and nanowires, obtained by the chemical (hydrothermal) method. The influences of both oxidizing (NO2) and reducing gases (H2, NH3), as well as relative humidity (RH) on the physical and chemical properties of ZnO nanostructures were tested. Carrier gas effect on the structure interaction with gases was also tested; experiments were conducted in air and nitrogen (N2) atmospheres. The effect of investigated gases on the resistance of the ZnO nanostructures was tested over a wide range of concentrations at room temperature (RT) and at 200 °C. The impact of near- ultraviolet (UV) excitation (λ = 390 nm) at RT was also studied. These investigations indicated a high response of ZnO nanostructures to small concentrations of NO2. The structure responses to 1 ppm of NO2 amounted to about: 600% in N2/230% in air at 200 °C (in dark conditions) and 430% in N2/340% in air at RT (with UV excitation). The response of the structure to the effect of NO2 at 200 °C is more than 105 times greater than the response to NH3, and more than 106 times greater than that to H2 in the relation of 1 ppm. Thus the selectivity of the structure for NO2 is very good. What is more, the selectivity to NO2 at RT with UV excitation increases in comparison at elevated temperature. This paper presents a great potential for practical applications of ZnO nanostructures (including nanoparticles) in resistive NO2 sensors