Metal-Oxide Nanowire Molecular Sensors and Their Promises

During the past two decades, one-dimensional (1D) metal-oxide nanowire (NW)-based molecular sensors have been witnessed as promising candidates to electrically detect volatile organic compounds (VOCs) due to their high surface to volume ratio, single crystallinity, and well-defined crystal orientations. Furthermore, these unique physical/chemical features allow the integrated sensor electronics to work with a long-term stability, ultra-low power consumption, and miniature device size, which promote the fast development of trillion sensor electronics for Internet of things (IoT) applications. This review gives a comprehensive overview of the recent studies and achievements in 1D metal-oxide nanowire synthesis, sensor device fabrication, sensing material functionalization, and sensing mechanisms. In addition, some critical issues that impede the practical application of the 1D metal-oxide nanowire-based sensor electronics, including selectivity, long-term stability, and low power consumption, will be highlighted. Finally, we give a prospective account of the remaining issues toward the laboratory-to-market transformation of the 1D nanostructure-based sensor electronics.

Automated summary

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the recent studies and achievements in 1D metal-oxide nanowire-based molecular sensors, discussing their potential in sensor electronics and highlighting key issues that impede their practical application. The review also offers a prospective account of the remaining challenges towards the laboratory-to-market transformation of sensor electronics based on 1D nanostructures.