Highly sensitive and selective H-2 sensing by ZnO nanofibers and the underlying sensing mechanism

Abstract

We report, and propose a mechanism for, the exceptional hydrogen gas (H-2) sensing ability of ZnO nanofibers. In comparison to SnO2 nanofibers, ZnO nanofibers show outstanding H-2 gas response and unmistakable H-2 selectivity. Different from the reducing gas effect observed in SnO2 nanofibers, a semiconductor-to-metal transition that occurs in the presence of H-2 gas molecules is responsible for the exceptional response and selectivity of ZnO nanofibers to Hy. Notably, the presence of nanograins within nanofibers further intensifies the resistance modulation observed due to this transition.