Fabrication of Metal Chalcogenide One Dimensional Nanostructure for Toxic Gas Sensing Application

Abstract

Zinc Oxide (ZnO) is a wide-band- gap (3.37 eV) semiconductor of II-VI semiconductor group. The native doping of the semiconductor due to oxygen vacancies or zinc interstitial is n-type. Synthesis of (One- Dimension) 1D structure of ZnO is a potential candidate for Gas Sensing, UV sensing and Immuno-sensors for Viruses, in LEDs and in Solar Cell application as an electron transporting layer. The realization of high aspect ratio of Sodium doped ZnO nanorods is critical to the development of high-quality nanostructure based optoelectronic and electronic devices. In this project, we aim a solution-based synthesis method to grow vertically aligned high aspect ratio nanorod on transparent conducting oxide (TCO) substrate for UV light and Gas sensing applications (for sensing CH4, CO and CO2) at room temperature. It will be investigated whether the diameter and aspect ratio of the nanorods are affected by the addition of polyethyleneimine (PEI) to precursor solution used as well as by variations in the growth temperature and the concentration of the precursor solution. Graphene and other 2D materials also may be utilize for making ZnO based nanocomposites. The structural, morphological, optical and gas sensing properties of synthesized ZnO and Doped ZnO arrays shall also be examined.