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

Abstract

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.