On-chip ultrasensitive and rapid hydrogen sensing based on plasmon-induced hot electron–molecule interaction

Wen, L., Sun, Z., Zheng, Q., Nan, X., Lou, Z., Liu, Z., Cumming, D. R.S. , Li, B. and Chen, Q. (2023) On-chip ultrasensitive and rapid hydrogen sensing based on plasmon-induced hot electron–molecule interaction. Light: Science and Applications, 12, 76. (doi: 10.1038/s41377-023-01123-4) (PMID:36944614)

Abstract

Hydrogen energy is a zero-carbon replacement for fossil fuels. However, hydrogen is highly flammable and explosive hence timely sensitive leak detection is crucial. Existing optical sensing techniques rely on complex instruments, while electrical sensing techniques usually operate at high temperatures and biasing condition. In this paper an on-chip plasmonic–catalytic hydrogen sensing concept with a concentration detection limit down to 1 ppm is presented that is based on a metal–insulator–semiconductor (MIS) nanojunction operating at room temperature and zero bias. The sensing signal of the device was enhanced by three orders of magnitude at a one-order of magnitude higher response speed compared to alternative non-plasmonic devices. The excellent performance is attributed to the hydrogen induced interfacial dipole charge layer and the associated plasmonic hot electron modulated photoelectric response. Excellent agreements were achieved between experiment and theoretical calculations based on a quantum tunneling model. Such an on-chip combination of plasmonic optics, photoelectric detection and photocatalysis offers promising strategies for next-generation optical gas sensors that require high sensitivity, low time delay, low cost, high portability and flexibility.

• Item Type: Articles
• Additional Information: The authors are grateful for financial supports from the National Key Research and Development Program of China (No. 2019YFB2203402), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 92050108 and 62220106001), Guangdong Science and Technology Program International Cooperation Program (No. 2021A0505030038), Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (Nos. 2020B1515020037 and 2022B1515020069), Pearl River Talent Plan Program of Guangdong (No. 2019QN01X120), and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. 21621108). The authors are also thankful for the technical support from Nano Fabrication Facility and Nano-X of SINANO, CAS.
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Cumming, Professor David
• Authors: Wen, L., Sun, Z., Zheng, Q., Nan, X., Lou, Z., Liu, Z., Cumming, D. R.S., Li, B., and Chen, Q.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
• Journal Name: Light: Science and Applications
• Publisher: Springer Nature
• ISSN: 2047-7538
• ISSN (Online): 2047-7538
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Light: Science and Applications 12: 76
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License