Multifunctional UV and Gas Sensors Based on Vertically Nanostructured Zinc Oxide: Volume Versus Surface Effect

This article reports that it is possible to make multifunctional sensing devices with ZnO infiltrated polymers while the sensing interactions could occur throughout the polymer. As such, we find that infiltrated devices with SU-8 polymer can result in highly sensitive UV sensors. Mesh dielectric core devices were found to make sensitive gas sensors with a better than 5 ppm sensitivity for formaldehyde and NO₂. A new type of p-n junction device is further demonstrated that is sensitive to UV illumination, thus making it an enhanced UV sensor. Sensing devices relying on volume interactions, such as light absorption, can significantly benefit from the infiltrated polymer. In contrast, devices that rely on surface interactions, such as gas sensors, do not gain performance in any significant way with or without the infiltrated polymer.