ZnO nanostructures for sensor applications

The wide-gap semiconductor ZnO with nanostructures such as nanoparticles, nanorods, nanowires has high potential for a variety of sensor applications. This paper reviews the recent developments of ZnO one dimentional nanostructures for future gas sensor applications. Presented first is the factors contributing to the high performances of gas sensors using such nanostructures. Then various fabrication methods of the ZnO nanostructures including vapor phase growth, solution growth, and template-assisted growth are introduced. The characterization and properties of the ZnO nanostructures-based gas sensors are described. The basic mechanisms for explaining the behaviors of the gas sensors are also discussed.