Brief review on ZnO Synthesis methods, thin film & nanowire gas sensors

Abstract

ZnO nanowires are ideal building blocks for a wide range of nanoscale electronics, optoelectronics, and chemical sensing devices. The material properties change when the material is in nanowire form as compare to thin film or bulk. Nanowires are very promising for the development of new generation gas sensors. In nanowires surface effects dominate due to increase of their particular surface that enhances the surface related properties like catalytic activity or surface adsorption. Sensitivity of nanowire to a particular gas increases if the catalyst is use to grow the nanowire. There are two methods for the synthesis of nanowire bottom up and top down. Both methods have their merits and demerits that will discussed under the topic of nanowire synthesis and deposition methods.