Ultraviolet illumination effect on monolayer graphene-based resistive sensor for acetone detection

In this study, a room-temperature acetone gas sensor based on monolayer graphene is proposed with the improvement by ultraviolet (UV) illumination. The monolayer graphene film was grown by low pressure chemical vapor deposition and then transferred to the interdigital gold electrode by the standard transferred method. To test the acetone sensing properties, the concentration of 300, 600 and 900 ppb acetone provided by a gas standards generator is applied in the testing chamber. The resistance changes following a doping type modification of graphene between illumination and acetone gas. A 1.9% change in short time illumination on graphene could be obtained at 600 ppb and room temperature, which could make this a candidate for biomedical application in the future. In the meantime, a mechanism is proposed to explain whole behavior based on photo-induced molecular desorption.