title: Gas sensors based on semiconducting nanowire field-effect transistors.
abstract: One-dimensional semiconductor nanostructures are unique sensing materials for the fabrication of gas sensors. In this article, gas sensors based on semiconducting nanowire field-effect transistors (FETs) are comprehensively reviewed. Individual nanowires or nanowire network films are usually used as the active detecting channels. In these sensors, a third electrode, which serves as the gate, is used to tune the carrier concentration of the nanowires to realize better sensing performance, including sensitivity, selectivity and response time, etc. The FET parameters can be modulated by the presence of the target gases and their change relate closely to the type and concentration of the gas molecules. In addition, extra controls such as metal decoration, local heating and light irradiation can be combined with the gate electrode to tune the nanowire channel and realize more effective gas sensing. With the help of micro-fabrication techniques, these sensors can be integrated into smart systems. Finally, some challenges for the future investigation and application of nanowire field-effect gas sensors are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonic and Electronic Materials, School of Electronic Science & Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China. fengpung@126.com.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Feng
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonic and Electronic Materials, School of Electronic Science & Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China. fengangelo@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonic and Electronic Materials, School of Electronic Science & Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China. yshi@nju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Photonic and Electronic Materials, School of Electronic Science & Engineering, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China. wanqing@nju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wan
mesh_terms: D003217:Conductometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005740:Gases / Q000032:analysis*; D053770:Nanowires / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014159:Transducers; D014173:Transistors, Electronic
chemical_list: D005740:Gases