Enhancement of the benzene-sensing performance of Si nanowires through the incorporation of TeO2 heterointerfaces and Pd-sensitization

We report a novel method to significantly improve the C6H6-sensing performance of Si nanowires through the combination of TeO2 branches and Pd sensitization. The morphological investigation revealed that TeO2 branches were densely formed on the stem nanowires (NWs). The sensor responses of the Pdfunctionalized branched NWs exhibited superior sensor responses of 55.19 to C6H6 gas. In particular, Pd nanoparticles enhanced the sensor response to C6H6 gas most efficiently, increasing the sensor response by 173.5%. Possible mechanisms for the sensing of the Pd-decorated branched nanowires will be associated with resistance modulation along the branch TeO2 nanowires (including catalytic Pd effects), at the networked homojunctions between the branch TeO2 nanowires, at the boundaries of the TeO2 nanograins, and at the Pd/TeO2 heterojunctions. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.