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Dispersed nanoelectrode devices

Nature Nanotechnology volume 5, pages 54–60 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

The enhanced performance and reduced scale that nanoparticles can bring to a device are frequently compromised by the poor electrical conductivity of nanoparticle structures or assemblies. Here, we demonstrate a unique nanoscale electrode assembly in which conduction is carried out by one set of nanoparticles, and other device functions by another set. Using a scalable process, nanoparticles with tailored conductivity are stochastically deposited above or below a functional nanoparticle film, and serve as extensions of the bulk electrodes, greatly reducing the total film resistance. We apply this approach to solid-state gas sensors and achieve controlled device resistance with an exceptionally high sensitivity to ethanol of 20 ppb. This approach can be extended to other classes of devices such as actuators, batteries, and fuel and solar cells.

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Figure 1: Schematic of possible layouts for functional nanostructured films integrated in microcircuitry (such as solid-state gas sensors).
Figure 2: Performance of solid-state gas sensors with standard electrodes.
Figure 3: Control of the resistance of the device by deposition of top-layout nanoelectrodes.
Figure 4: Deposition of bottom-layout nanoelectrodes.
Figure 5: Performance of bottom-layout nanoelectrodes.
Figure 6: Detection of ultralow EtOH concentrations by solid-state gas sensors with bottom-layout nanoelectrodes.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge stimulating discussions with T.D. Elmoe, and thank M. Righettoni and H. Keskinen for assistance with the experiments, F. Krumeich for electron microscope analysis and Competence Centre for Materials Science and Technology (CCMX) and NANocrystalline CERamic thin film coatings (NANCER) for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Particle Technology Laboratory, Institute of Process Engineering, ETH Zürich, Zürich, CH-8092, Switzerland

    Antonio Tricoli & Sotiris E. Pratsinis

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  1. Antonio Tricoli
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Contributions

A.T. and S.E.P. conceived and designed the experiments. A.T. performed the experiments. A.T. and S.E.P. analysed the data and co-wrote the paper.

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Correspondence to Sotiris E. Pratsinis.

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Tricoli, A., Pratsinis, S. Dispersed nanoelectrode devices. Nature Nanotech 5, 54–60 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2009.349

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