Enhanced gas sensor based on nitrogen-vacancy graphene nanoribbons

We study the electron transport of nitrogen-vacancy zigzag graphene nanoribbons (ZGNRs) absorbing gas molecules. It is found that the nitrogen-vacancy ZGNRs are more sensitive to the gas molecules than the pristine ZGNRs. The gas molecules absorbed on the three-nitrogen vacancies lead to sharp resonant peaks on conductance, while those absorbed on the four-nitrogen vacancies lead to anti-resonant dips. Each kind of gas molecule can be detected by its own unique (different energy) resonant peaks (or dips). This indicates that the nitrogen vacancy can enhance the sensitivity to gas molecules, i.e., nitrogen-vacancy ZGNRs can serve as better gas sensors. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.