CuO Single-Nanowire Printed Devices for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) Detection

This work reports the copper oxide (CuO) single nanowire (SNW) based devices for the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Fabrication involves the synthesis of CuO nanowires by thermal oxidation of copper. The SNWback-to-back Schottky diode electrodes are fabricated by microcantilever contact print (mu CCP) of silver nanoparticles (AgNP) on Si-SiO2 substrate. Devices with channel lengths 10, 20, and 30 mu m are employed to detect VOCs such as ethanol, acetone, and 2-propanol, etc., with concentrations ranging from 25-100 ppm. Sensing is carried out at room temperature, 150 degrees C, and in white light (1 mWcm(-2)). The device exhibits a maximum response of 1.1% and 4.86% under various operating conditions with a limit of detection (LOD) of 15.4 ppm. The device has limited performance, but is stable for four months.

Automated summary

This study presents the use of copper oxide (CuO) single nanowire (SNW) based devices for the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). CuO nanowires were synthesized by thermally oxidizing copper, and SNW-back-to-back Schottky diode electrodes were fabricated using microcantilever contact print of silver nanoparticles on a Si-SiO2 substrate. The devices with different channel lengths were able to detect VOCs such as ethanol, acetone, and 2-propanol within a concentration range of 25-100 ppm. The maximum response of the device was 1.1% and 4.86% under different operating conditions, with a limit of detection of 15.4 ppm. The device showed limited performance but remained stable for four months.