Improving gas sensing by CdTe decoration of individual Aerographite microtubes.

Novel gas sensors have been realized by decorating clusters of tubular Aerographite with CdTe using magnetron sputtering techniques. Subsequently, individual microtubes were separated and electrically contacted on a SiO2/Si substrate with pre-patterned electrodes. Cathodoluminescence, electron microscopy and electrical characterization prove the successful formation of a polycrystalline CdTe thin film on Aerographite enabling an excellent gas response to ammonia. Furthermore, the dynamical response to ammonia exposure has been investigated, highlighting the quick response and recovery times of the sensor, which is highly beneficial for extremely short on/off cycles. Therefore, this gas sensor reveals a large potential for cheap, highly selective, reliable and low-power gas sensors, which are especially important for hazardous gases such as ammonia.

Ultra-lightweight pressure sensor based on graphene aerogel decorated with piezoelectric nanocrystalline films.

In this paper, we report on a pressure sensor based on graphene aerogel functionalized with SnO2 or GaN thin films deposited by magnetron sputtering. Decoration by nanocrystalline SnO2 or GaN was found to enhance the piezoresistive response of the bare aerogel. The responsivity and pressure sensing range (from 1-5 atm) of the sensor are shown to be higher than those inherent in pressure sensors based on graphene membranes.

Strong light scattering and broadband (UV to IR) photoabsorption in stretchable 3D hybrid architectures based on Aerographite decorated by ZnO nanocrystallites.

In present work, the nano- and microscale tetrapods from zinc oxide were integrated on the surface of Aerographite material (as backbone) in carbon-metal oxide hybrid hierarchical network via a simple and single step magnetron sputtering process. The fabricated hybrid networks are characterized for morphology, microstructural and optical properties. The cathodoluminescence investigations revealed interesting luminescence features related to carbon impurities and inherent host defects in zinc oxide. Because of the wide bandgap of zinc oxide and its intrinsic defects, the hybrid network absorbs light in the UV and visible regions, however, this broadband photoabsorption behavior extends to the infrared (IR) region due to the dependence of the optical properties of ZnO architectures upon size and shape of constituent nanostructures and their doping by carbon impurities. Such a phenomenon of broadband photoabsorption ranging from UV to IR for zinc oxide based hybrid materials is novel. Additionally, the fabricated network exhibits strong visible light scattering behavior. The developed Aerographite/nanocrystalline ZnO hybrid network materials, equipped with broadband photoabsorption and strong light scattering, are very promising candidates for optoelectronic technologies.