Synthesis and integration of tin oxide nanowires into an electronic nose

Single crystal nanostructures of semiconducting tin oxides have been fabricated and characterized as sensing materials for implementation in an electronic nose. The nanowires exhibit exceptional crystalline quality and a very high length-to-width ratio, resulting in enhanced sensing capability as well as long-term material stability for prolonged operation. A sensing device based on SnO2 nanowires has been fabricated and comparatively tested in an array of chemical sensor with conventional thin film sensing device. Preliminary measurements ethanol/water mixtures demonstrate that nanowire-based sensors can be favourably implemented in the electronic nose and that they perform comparably with the conventional thin film layers.

► Tin oxide – Semiconducting nanostructured functional materials. ► Nanowires – Fabrication of single crystal nanostructure. ► Electronic nose – Sensing of mixtures through sensor arrays.