High performance stretchable UV sensor arrays of SnO2 nanowires

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Sensor Technology

Background:

• Developing high-performance, flexible sensors is crucial for advanced electronic applications.
• Existing ultraviolet (UV) sensors often lack mechanical robustness and spatial sensing capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate a high-performance, stretchable UV sensor array using an active matrix (AM) device.
• To evaluate the spatial UV sensing capabilities and mechanical stability of the fabricated sensor array.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of an active matrix (AM) device integrating field-effect transistors of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and tin dioxide (SnO2) nanowires.
• Characterization of UV sensing performance (photosensitivity, photoconductive gain) under low UV power intensities.
• Mechanical testing to assess performance under applied strain.

Main Results:

• The fabricated SnO2 nanowire (NW) UV sensors exhibited high photosensitivity (∼10^5) and photoconductive gain (∼10^6).
• The sensor array demonstrated spatial UV sensing capabilities.
• UV sensing performance remained stable with a prestrain of up to 23%.

Conclusions:

• The developed active matrix UV sensor array offers high performance and stretchability.
• The integration of SWCNTs and SnO2 NWs in an AM device enables robust and spatially resolved UV detection.
• The sensor array's mechanical flexibility makes it suitable for various wearable and flexible electronic applications.