Enabling selectivity and fast recovery of ZnO nanowire gas sensors through resistive switching

Nanomaterial based chemical sensors promise exceedingly high sensitivity with ultra-small form factors. However, fundamental limitations in selectivity and recovery speed have largely hindered their application in real-life scenarios. We report on a unique approach to improving the key performance of ZnO nanowire sensors by leveraging their resistive switching properties. By manipulating the resistive states of the nanowire, we were able to achieve excellent selectivity along with a significant improvement in recovery speed by more than 8 times. We attributed the enhancement to the switching between different electron transport mechanisms and redistribution of oxygen vacancies inside the one-dimensional channel. The innovative concept of incorporating sensing and resistive switching properties of nanostructures is particularly inspiring to the development of nanosensors to meet the versatile needs of real world applications.