Enhanced Gas Detection by Altering Gate Voltage Polarity of Polypyrrole/Graphene Field-Effect Transistor Sensor

Abstract

This work introduces a new measurement methodology for enhancing gas detection by tuning the magnitude and polarity of back-gate voltage of a field-effect transistor (FET)-based sensor. The aim is to simultaneously strengthen the sensor response and accelerate the sensor recovery. In addition, this methodology can consume less energy compared with conventional measurements by direct current bias. To illustrate the benefits of the proposed methodology, we fabricated and characterized a polypyrrole/graphene (PPy/G) FET sensor for ammonia (NH3) detection. Our experiment, simulation and calculation results demonstrated that the redox reaction between the NH3 molecules and the PPy/G sensitive layer could be controlled by altering the polarity and the magnitude of the back-gate voltage. This proof-of-principle measurement methodology, which solves the inherent contradiction between high response and slow recovery of the chemiresistive sensor, could be extended to detect other gases, so as to improve global gas measurement systems. It opens up a new route for FET-based gas sensors in practical applications.