Date of Award
8-1-2013
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Physics
First Advisor
Kolmakov, Andrei
Abstract
This study is dedicated to the implementing of Electron-Beam-Induced Current (EBIC) microscopy to study the behavior of metal oxide semiconducting (MOS) nanowire (NW) gas sensor in situ under exposure to different environment. First, we reported the development of a single nanowire gas sensor compatible with an environmental cell. The major component of the device we use in this study is a single SnO2 nanowire attached to an electron transparent SiN membrane (50-100 nm thick), which was used for mounting nanowire working electrodes and surface imaging of NW. First the NW's conductivity is investigated in different temperatures. Higher temperature is proved to cause higher conductivity of NW. We also found that often the Schottky barrier is formed at the nanowire's contacts with Au and Au/Cr electrodes. Then NW's responses to gas and electron beam (from SEM) are analyzed quantitatively by current measurement. Electron-Beam-Induced Current technique was introduced for the first time to characterize the conductivity behavior of the nanowire during the gas sensing process. Resistive contrast was observed in the EBIC image.
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