Elsevier

Sensors and Actuators

Volume 11, Issue 4, 6 May 1987, Pages 349-365
Sensors and Actuators

Optimization of ammonia-sensitive metal-oxide-semiconductor structures with platinum gates

https://doi.org/10.1016/0250-6874(87)80075-6Get rights and content

Abstract

Ammonia gas-sensitive MOS capacitors with platinum as a thin active metal gate have been studied. The influence of parameters such as the thickness and area of the platinum film on the ammonia sensitivity was investigated. Thicknesses of about 10 to 30 nm of platinum were found to be favourable for a large response to small ammonia concentrations. It was further observed that with aluminium as a thick contact material, the response to ammonia was independent of the area of the platinum film. Theoretical and experimental C(V curves were compared to elucidate the mechanism behnd the ammonia sensitivity. it is concluded that the sensitivity arises from the thin catalytic Pt film.

Cited by (35)

  • FET-type gas sensors: A review

    2021, Sensors and Actuators, B: Chemical
    Citation Excerpt :

    As the operating temperature increases, the dissociation rate of hydrogen-containing gas molecules increases and thus the response of the sensor also increases [78]. But some kinds of hydrogen-containing gases such as NH3 can neither be dehydrogenated at the catalytic metal surface, nor pass through thick and continuous metal film [83,84]. Thus, the metal-gate MOS sensor having a thick and continuous metal gate only can be used to detect H2 gas or hydrogen-containing gas molecules that can be dehydrogenated by the catalytic metal gate.

  • New generation SiC based field effect transistor gas sensors

    2013, Sensors and Actuators, B: Chemical
    Citation Excerpt :

    It has been suggested that the reaction with and subsequent removal of oxygen anions from the insulator surface through reverse spill-over is the main mechanism behind the sensitivity towards non-hydrogen containing substances such as CO and NO and indications point to the mechanism, at least partly, also mediating the response to hydrocarbon and similar compounds for such devices [13]. Strong indications also exist for an increased sensitivity to background hydrogen during conditions when the surface is largely depleted of oxygen from reactions with other substances [14] and for the detection of ammonia the necessary existence of three-phase boundaries (gas/metal contact/insulator) has been shown [15] (see also Fig. 2). Tailoring of the selectivity and sensitivity towards different substances can thus be achieved through knowledge about such interactions and a smart choice of identity and structure of the gate and insulator materials as well as operation temperature [4,16–18].

  • Assembly of hybrid silver-titania thin films for gas sensors

    2010, Sensors and Actuators, B: Chemical
View all citing articles on Scopus
View full text