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.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Wu, N. L., Wang, S. Y. & Rusakova, I. A. Inhibition of crystallite growth in the sol-gel synthesis of nanocrystalline metal oxides. Science 285, 1375–1377 (1999).
O'Regan, B. & Gratzel, M. A low-cost, high-efficiency solar cell based on dye-sensitized colloidal TiO2 films. Nature 353, 737–740 (1991).
Wang, P. et al. A stable quasi-solid-state dye-sensitized solar cell with an amphiphilic ruthenium sensitizer and polymer gel electrolyte. Nature Mater. 2, 402–407 (2003).
Poizot, P., Laruelle, S., Grugeon, S., Dupont, L. & Tarascon, J. M. Nano-sized transition-metal oxides as negative-electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries. Nature 407, 496–499 (2000).
Muecke, U. P. et al. Micro solid oxide fuel cells on glass ceramic substrates. Adv. Funct. Mater. 18, 3158–3168 (2008).
Kim, H. et al. Parallel patterning of nanoparticles via electrodynamic focusing of charged aerosols. Nature Nanotech. 1, 117–121 (2006).
Tricoli, A. et al. Micropatterning layers by flame aerosol deposition-annealing. Adv. Mater. 20, 3005–3010 (2008).
Kang, S. J. et al. High-performance electronics using dense, perfectly aligned arrays of single-walled carbon nanotubes. Nature Nanotech. 2, 230–236 (2007).
Barsan, N. & Weimar, U. Conduction model of metal oxide gas sensors. J. Electroceram. 7, 143–167 (2001).
Patey, T. J. et al. Flame co-synthesis of LiMn2O4 and carbon nanocomposites for high power batteries. J. Power Sour. 189, 149–154 (2009).
Tricoli, A., Graf, M. & Pratsinis, S. E. Optimal doping for enhanced SnO2 sensitivity and thermal stability. Adv. Funct. Mater. 18, 1969–1976 (2008).
Hagleitner, C. et al. Smart single-chip gas sensor microsystem. Nature 414, 293–296 (2001).
Kühne, S. et al. Wafer-level flame-spray-pyrolysis deposition of gas-sensitive layers on microsensors. J. Micromech. Microeng. 18, 035040 (2008).
Mueller, R., Mädler, L. & Pratsinis, S. E. Nanoparticle synthesis at high production rates by flame spray pyrolysis. Chem. Eng. Sci. 58, 1969–1976 (2003).
Tamaki, J., Maekawa, T., Miura, N. & Yamazoe, N. CuO–SnO2 element for highly sensitive and selective detection of H2S. Sens. Actuat. B 9, 197–203 (1992).
Chou, T. P., Zhang, Q., Russo, B. & Cao, G. Enhanced light-conversion efficiency of titanium-dioxide dye-sensitized solar cells with the addition of indium-tin-oxide and fluorine-tin-oxide nanoparticles in electrode films. J. Nanophoton. 2, 023511 (2008).
Mädler, L. et al. Direct formation of highly porous gas-sensing films by in situ thermophoretic deposition of flame-made Pt/SnO2 nanoparticles. Sens. Actuat. B 114, 283–295 (2006).
Becker, T., Ahlers, S., Bosch-v.Braunmuhl, C., Muller, G. & Kiesewetter, O. Gas sensing properties of thin- and thick-film tin-oxide materials. Sens. Actuat. B 77, 55–61 (2001).
Teleki, A., Pratsinis, S. E., Kalyanasundaram, K. & Gouma, P. I. Sensing of organic vapors by flame-made TiO2 nanoparticles. Sens. Actuat. B 119, 683–690 (2006).
Joshi, R. K. & Kruis, F. E. Influence of Ag particle size on ethanol sensing of SnO1.8:Ag nanoparticle films: a method to develop parts per billion level gas sensors. Appl. Phys. Lett. 89, 153116 (2006).
Graf, M., Gurlo, A., Barsan, N., Weimar, U. & Hierlemann, A. Microfabricated gas sensor systems with sensitive nanocrystalline metal-oxide films. J. Nanopart. Res. 8, 823–839 (2006).
Mädler, L. et al. Sensing low concentrations of CO using flame-spray-made Pt/SnO2 nanoparticles. J. Nanopart. Res. 8, 783–796 (2006).
Rodriguez-Perez, D., Castillo, J. L. & Antoranz, J. C. Relationship between particle deposit characteristics and the mechanism of particle arrival. Phys. Rev. E 72, 021403 (2005).
Pecharromán, C., Esteban-Betegón, F., Bartolomé, J. F., López-Esteban, S. & Moya, J. S. New percolative BaTiO3–Ni composites with a high and frequency-independent dielectric constant (ɛr = 80000). Adv. Mater. 13, 1541–1544 (2001).
Bolzan, A. A., Fong, C., Kennedy, B. J. & Howard, C. J. Structural studies of rutile-type metal dioxides. Acta Crystallogr. B 53, 373–380 (1997).
Liu, Y., Koep, E. & Liu, M. L. Highly sensitive and fast-responding SnO2 sensor fabricated by combustion chemical vapor deposition. Chem. Mater. 17, 3997–4000 (2005).
Kroneld, M. et al. Gas sensing properties of SnO2 thin films grown by MBE. Sens. Actuat. B 118, 110–114 (2006).
Bruno, L., Pijolat, C. & Lalauze, R. Tin dioxide thin-film gas sensor prepared by chemical vapour deposition: influence of grain size and thickness on the electrical properties. Sens. Actuat. B 18, 195–199 (1994).
Lee, Y. C., Huang, H., Tan, O. K. & Tse, M. S. Semiconductor gas sensor based on Pd-doped SnO2 nanorod thin films. Sens. Actuat. B 132, 239–242 (2008).
Hellegouarc'h, F., Arefi-Khonsari, F., Planade, R. & Amouroux, J. PECVD prepared SnO2 thin films for ethanol sensors. Sens. Actuat. B 73, 27–34 (2001).
Zhao, Y., Feng, Z. & Liang, Y. SnO2 gas sensor films deposited by pulsed laser ablation. Sens. Actuat. B 56, 224–227 (1999).
Bittencourt, C. et al. Influence of the deposition method on the morphology and elemental composition of SnO2 films for gas sensing: atomic force and X-ray photoemission spectroscopy analysis. Sens. Actuat. B 92, 67–72 (2003).
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.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
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.
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Tricoli, A., Pratsinis, S. Dispersed nanoelectrode devices. Nature Nanotech 5, 54–60 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2009.349
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2009.349
This article is cited by
-
Rapid biosynthesis and characterization of silver nanoparticles: an assessment of antibacterial and antimycotic activity
Applied Physics A (2018)
-
Effect of silver thickness on structural, optical and morphological properties of nanocrystalline Ag/NiO thin films
Journal of Theoretical and Applied Physics (2018)
-
Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Myristica fragrans seed (nutmeg) extract and its antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi isolates
Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2017)
-
Ultra-Porous Nanoparticle Networks: A Biomimetic Coating Morphology for Enhanced Cellular Response and Infiltration
Scientific Reports (2016)
-
Non-electrolytic synthesis of copper oxide/carbon nanocomposite by surface plasma in super-dehydrated ethanol
Scientific Reports (2016)