High-performance ultraviolet radiation sensors based on zinc oxide nanorods

•The sensors of ultraviolet radiation consisted of apodized IDTs and RMSC.•Zinc oxide nanorods were used as UV-sensitive layer.•The frequency shift was above 140 kHz for UV radiation of 46.52 μW/cm2 (λ = 365 nm).•The recovery time of sensors was reduced at a gas-discharge plasma impact process.

The original results of the development of the ultraviolet sensors based on surface acoustic wave resonators with apodized interdigital transducers and reversing multistrip coupler were presented. Zinc oxide nanorods were grown on the resonator surface using the hydrothermal method and were applied as a sensing layer. The surface characterization was performed by the scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The nanorods revealed excellent sensitivity for ultraviolet radiation: the frequency shift was above 140 kHz for radiating power of 46.52 μW/cm2 and the wavelength of 365 nm. The sensors demonstrated good repeatability and full recovery after 45 s of gas-discharge plasma impact process.