Gas sensors, thermistor and photodetector based on ZnS nanowires

By using thermal-evaporation-grown single crystalline ZnS nanowires as the active materials, several kinds of high performance sensors, including gas sensors, thermistors, and ultraviolet (UV) light sensors, were fabricated. ZnS nanowire-based gas sensors show high sensitivity, fast response and recovery times, and high selectivity, and can be used to detect acetone and ethanol down to 500 ppb level. The thermal index (B) of the device is about 3100 K, indicating it is suitable for fabricating high performance thermistors. The high sensitivity, good stability, and fast response toward UV light imply that ZnS nanowires (NWs) are particularly valuable for UV-light photodetectors.