The unique electronic properties of semiconductor nanowires, in particular silicon nanowires (SiNWs), are attractive for the label-free, real-time, and sensitive detection of various gases. Therefore, over the past two decades, extensive efforts have been made to study the gas sensing function of NWs. This review article presents the recent developments related to the applications of SiNWs for gas sensing. The content begins with the two basic synthesis approaches (top-down and bottom-up) whereby the advantages and disadvantages of each approach have been discussed. Afterwards, the basic sensing mechanism of SiNWs for both resistor and field effect transistor designs have been briefly described whereby the sensitivity and selectivity to gases after different functionalization methods have been further presented. In the final words, the challenges and future opportunities of SiNWs for gas sensing have been discussed.

In our environment, the large availability of wasted heat has motivated the search for methods to harvest heat. As a reliable way to supply energy, SiGe has been used for thermoelectric generators (TEGs) in space missions for decades. Recently, micro-thermoelectric generators (μTEG) have been shown to be a promising way to supply energy for the Internet of Things (IoT) by using daily waste heat. Combining the predominant CMOS compatibility with high electric conductivity and low thermal conductivity performance, Si nanowire and SiGe nanowire have been a candidate for μTEG. This review gives a comprehensive introduction of the Si, SiGe nanowires, and their possibility for μTEG. The basic thermoelectric principles, materials, structures, fabrication, measurements, and applications are discussed in depth.

Designing heterostructure materials at the nanoscale is a well-known method to enhance gas sensing performance. In this study, a mixed solution of zinc chloride and tin (II) chloride dihydrate, dissolved in ethanol solvent, was used as the initial precursor for depositing the sensing layer on alumina substrates using the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis (USP) method. Several ZnO/SnO₂ heterostructures were grown by applying different ratios in the initial precursors. These heterostructures were used as active materials for the sensing of H₂S gas molecules. The results revealed that an increase in the zinc chloride in the USP precursor alters the H₂S sensitivity of the sensor. The optimal working temperature was found to be 450 °C. The sensor, containing 5:1 (ZnCl₂: SnCl₂·2H₂O) ratio in the USP precursor, demonstrates a higher response than the pure SnO₂ (∼95 times) sample and other heterostructures. Later, the selectivity of the ZnO/SnO₂ heterostructures toward 5 ppm NO₂, 200 ppm methanol, and 100 ppm of CH₄, acetone, and ethanol was also examined. The gas sensing mechanism of the ZnO/SnO₂ was analyzed and the remarkably enhanced gas-sensing performance was mainly attributed to the heterostructure formation between ZnO and SnO₂. The synthesized materials were also analyzed by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectra to investigate the material distribution, grain size, and material quality of ZnO/SnO₂ heterostructures.

The paper deals with investigations concerning the construction of sensors based on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) containing a TiO₂ nanostructures sensor layer. A chemical method of synthesizing these nanostructures is presented. The prepared prototype of the QCM sensing system, as well as the results of tests for detecting low NO₂ concentrations in an atmosphere of synthetic air have been described. The constructed NO₂ sensors operate at room temperature, which is a great advantage, because resistance sensors based on wide gap semiconductors often require much higher operation temperatures, sometimes as high as 500 °C. The sensors constructed by the authors can be used, among other applications, in medical and chemical diagnostics, and also for the purpose of detecting explosive vapours. Reactions of the sensor to nitroglycerine vapours are presented as an example of its application. The influence of humidity on the operation of the sensor was studied.

The main object of this study is the improvement of the dynamics of NO₂ sensors based on ZnO nanostructures. Investigations presented in this paper showed that the combination of temperature and ultraviolet (UV) activation of the sensors can significantly decrease the sensor response and regeneration times. In comparison with the single activation method (elevated temperature or UV), these times for 1 ppm of NO₂ decreased from about 10 min (or more) to less than 40 s. In addition, at the optimal conditions (200 °C and UV), sensors were very stable, were fully scalable (in the range on NO₂ concentration of 1–20 ppm) and baseline drift was significantly reduced. Furthermore, in this paper, extensive studies of the influence of temperature and carrier gas (nitrogen and air) on NO₂ sensing properties of the ZnO nanostructures were conducted. The NO₂ sensing mechanisms of the sensors operating at elevated temperatures and under UV irradiation were also discussed. Our study showed that sensor responses to NO₂ and response/regeneration times are comparable from sensor to sensor in air and nitrogen conditions, which suggests that the proposed simple technology connected with well-chosen operation conditions is repeatable. The estimated limit of detection of the sensors is within the level of ≈800 ppb in nitrogen and ≈700 ppb in air.

This paper deals with experimental investigations of ZnO nanostructures, consisting of a mixture of nanoparticles and nanowires, obtained by the chemical (hydrothermal) method. The influences of both oxidizing (NO₂) and reducing gases (H₂, NH₃), as well as relative humidity (RH) on the physical and chemical properties of ZnO nanostructures were tested. Carrier gas effect on the structure interaction with gases was also tested; experiments were conducted in air and nitrogen (N₂) atmospheres. The effect of investigated gases on the resistance of the ZnO nanostructures was tested over a wide range of concentrations at room temperature (RT) and at 200 °C. The impact of near- ultraviolet (UV) excitation (λ = 390 nm) at RT was also studied. These investigations indicated a high response of ZnO nanostructures to small concentrations of NO₂. The structure responses to 1 ppm of NO₂ amounted to about: 600% in N₂/230% in air at 200 °C (in dark conditions) and 430% in N₂/340% in air at RT (with UV excitation). The response of the structure to the effect of NO₂ at 200 °C is more than 10⁵ times greater than the response to NH₃, and more than 10⁶ times greater than that to H₂ in the relation of 1 ppm. Thus the selectivity of the structure for NO₂ is very good. What is more, the selectivity to NO₂ at RT with UV excitation increases in comparison at elevated temperature. This paper presents a great potential for practical applications of ZnO nanostructures (including nanoparticles) in resistive NO₂ sensors.