Site-selectively grown SnO2 NWs networks on micromembranes for efficient ammonia sensing in humid conditions

Abstract

SnO2 NWs networks on heated micromembranes have been characterized as ammonia sensors. The approach allows achieving reproducible growth and stable and long-lasting ammonia sensors with site-specific grown SnO2 NWs. The devices have been tested both in dry and humid conditions showing response time down to two minutes. Sensors have been tested up to 1 month, only presenting variation of the base resistance with full retention of the response towards the gaseous analytes. Different concurrent sensing mechanisms have been identified relating the determined sensing kinetics with previous theoretical calculations. Specifically, oxygen dissociation seems to play a key role in the overall ammonia sensing sequence. In humid conditions, moisture reduces the response to ammonia but also lowers the activation energy of the reaction process.