Printed Edition of the Special Issue Published in Crystals.

Gas sensitive metal/metal-oxide field effect transistors based on silicon carbide were used to study the sensor response to benzene (C₆H₆) at the low parts per billion (ppb) concentration range. A combination of iridium and tungsten trioxide was used to develop the sensing layer. Highsensitivity to 10 ppb C₆H₆ was demonstrated during several repeated measurements at a constant temperature from 180 to 300 °C. The sensor performance was studied also as a function of the electrical operating point of the device, i.e., linear, onset of saturation, and saturation mode. Measurements performed in saturation mode gave a sensor response up to 52 % higher than those performed in linear mode.

Two-dimensional materials offer a unique platform for sensing where extremely high sensitivity is a priority, since even minimal chemical interaction causes noticeable changes inelectrical conductivity, which can be used for the sensor readout. However, the sensitivity has to becomplemented with selectivity, and, for many applications, improved response- and recovery times are needed. This has been addressed, for example, by combining graphene (for sensitivity) with metal/oxides (for selectivity) nanoparticles (NP). On the other hand, functionalization or modification of the graphene often results in poor reproducibility. In this study, we investigate thegas sensing performance of epitaxial graphene on SiC (EG/SiC) decorated with nanostructured metallic layers as well as metal-oxide nanoparticles deposited using scalable thin-film depositiontechniques, like hollow-cathode pulsed plasma sputtering. Under the right modification conditions the electronic properties of the surface remain those of graphene, while the surface chemistry can betuned to improve sensitivity, selectivity and speed of response to several gases relevant for airquality monitoring and control, such as nitrogen dioxide, benzene, and formaldehyde.

Solid state phase of V7O16 with separate V2O5 phase were fabricated by pulsed laser deposition. The crystal structure and symmetry of the deposited films were studied with X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. Rietveld analysis was performed to the X-ray diffraction measurement results. The surface potentials and morphologies of the films were studied with atomic force microscopy, and microstructure of the thin films was analysed by transmission electron microscopy. Raman spectroscopy and Rietveld refinement results confirmed that the thin-film crystal structures varied between orthorombic V2O5 phase and another phase, triclinic V2016, previously found only in the walls of vanadium oxide nanotubes (VOx, -NT), bound together with organic amine. We have earlier presented the first results of stable and pure metal -oxide solid-state phase of V2016 manufactured from ceramic V205 target. Here we show more detailed study of these structures. The microstructure studies showed a variation on the porosity of the films according to crystal structures and also some fibre -like nanostructures were found in the films. The surface morphology depended strongly on the crystal structure and the surface potential studies showed 50 meV difference in the work function values between the phases. Compounds were found to be extremely sensitive towards ammonia, NH3, down to 40 ppb concentrations, and have shown to have the stability and selectivity to control the Selective Catalytic Reduction process, where nitrogen oxides are reduced by ammonia in, e.g. diesel exhausts.

High-temperature iridium-gated field effect transistors based on silicon carbide have been used for sensitive detection of specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in concentrations of health concern, for indoorair quality monitoring and control. Formaldehyde, naphthalene, and benzene were studied as hazardous VOCs at parts per billion (ppb) down to sub-ppb levels. The sensor performance and characteristics were investigated at a constant temperature of 330° C and at different levels of relative humidity up to 60 %, showing good stability and repeatability of the sensor response, and excellent detection limits in the sub-ppb range.

We report a single-step procedure for growth of ohmic Ti₃SiC₂ on 4H-SiC by sputter-deposition of Ti at 960 °C, based on the Ti–SiC solid-state reaction during deposition. X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy show the growth of interfacial Ti₃SiC₂. The as-deposited contacts are ohmic, in contrast to multistep processes with deposition followed by rapid thermal annealing. This procedure also offers the possibility of direct synthesis of oxygen-barrier capping layers before exposure to air, potentially improving contact stability in high-temperature and high-power devices.

Graphene-based chemical gas sensors normally show ultra-high sensitivity to certain gas molecules but at the same time suffer from poor selectivity and slow response and recovery Limes. Several approaches based on functionalization or modification of the graphene surface have been demonstrated as means to improve these issues, but most such measures result in poor reproducibility. In this study we investigate reproducible graphene surface modifications by sputter deposition of thin nanostructured Au or Pt layers. It is demonstrated that under the right metallization conditions the electronic properties of the surface remain those of graphene, while the surface chemistry is modified to improve sensitivity, selectivity and speed of response to nitrogen dioxide.