Punched ZnO nanobelt networks for highly sensitive gas sensors

Punched ZnO nanobelt (NB) network sensors with strong adhesion to Au electrodes were fabricated by the vapor-phase growth of ZnS NB networks and subsequent thermal annealing. The punched ZnO NB networks showed sensitive and selective detection of trimethylamine (TMA), while no significant sensitivity or selectivity to a specific gas was observed in dense ZnO NB networks. This high TMA response can be explained by abundant chemoresistive contacts, effective electron depletion, and high surface area to volume ratio of punched ZnO NB networks. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.