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Review
. 2017 Nov 9;7(11):381.
doi: 10.3390/nano7110381.

ZnO Nanowire Application in Chemoresistive Sensing: A Review

Simas Rackauskas  1 , Nadia Barbero  2 , Claudia Barolo  3 , Guido Viscardi  4
Affiliations
Review

ZnO Nanowire Application in Chemoresistive Sensing: A Review

Simas Rackauskas et al. Nanomaterials (Basel). .

Abstract

This article provides an overview of the recent development of ZnO nanowires (NWs) for chemoresistive sensing. Working mechanisms of chemoresistive sensors are unified for gas, ultraviolet (UV) and bio sensor types: single nanowire and nanowire junction sensors are described, giving the overview for a simple sensor manufacture by multiple nanowire junctions. ZnO NW surface functionalization is discussed, and how this effects the sensing is explained. Further, novel approaches for sensing, using ZnO NW functionalization with other materials such as metal nanoparticles or heterojunctions, are explained, and limiting factors and possible improvements are discussed. The review concludes with the insights and recommendations for the future improvement of the ZnO NW chemoresistive sensing.

Keywords: ZnO; biosensing; chemoresistive; nanowire; sensors.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematics of unified ZnO nanowire (NW) chemoresistive sensing principle, based on the depletion layer width change with absorption-desorption of oxygen.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Schematics of ZnO NW sensor geometry types: (a) single NW; (b) NW-NW junction.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Comparison of contacts between ZnO and CuO NWs: (a) current-voltage (I-V) curves obtained at room temperature, demonstrating the characteristic nonlinear Schottky-like transport behavior; (b) Energy band diagram for every interconnection type between NWs. Reproduced with permission from [45]. Copyright American Chemical Society, 2013.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Schematic diagrams: (a) pristine ZnO NW; (b) Cr2O3-modified ZnO NW in the dark and under UV illumination in air and ethanol showing the depletion layer and conduction path. Reproduced with permission from [65]. Copyright American Chemical Society, 2016.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Schematic diagrams of three generations of sensors: (a) 1st generation; (b) 2nd generation and (c) 3rd generation [69].
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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