Nanoparticles As Gas Sensors - (18BS012) - 3-4

INTRODUCTION
One of the important effects in the nanotechnology is the quantum

confinement effect.Quantum confinement is the confinement of
electrons in one or more dimensions.This effect is observed in the
nano scale when the size of the particle is small comparable to the
wavelength of the electron.Motion of the electrons are restricted in
specific energy levels.Due to this effect,change of optical and
electronic properties occurs in the sample material.Energy
levels,band gaps,conduction-valence bands of electrons can be
described by quantum confinement effects.Thus quantum
confinement effect occurs when the length of a semiconductor is
reduced to order of Bohr exciton radius. The length scale corresponds
to the regime of quantum confinement ranges from 1 to 25 nm for
typical semiconductor groups of IV, III-V and II-VI.
CLASSIFICATIONS OF QUANTUM CONFINEMENT

STRUCTURES :
Based on the confinement direction, a quantum confined structure is

classified into three categories as –
• Quantum well
• Quantum wire
• Quantum dots.
(1) Quantum well : Two-dimensional nanostructure is referred

as quantum well.It is a potential well with discrete energy
values. A quantum well is a particular kind of heterostructure
in which one thin "well" layer is sandwiched by two barrier
layers.The layer in which electron and holes are confined is
very thin (about 100 armstrongs). A quantum well is formed
from one semiconductor is sandwiched between two layers of
a second semiconductor having a larger band gap. The centre
layer with the smaller band gap semiconductor forms the
quantum well.The other two layer act as potential barriers.
They can be made to a high degree of precision by modern
epitaxial crystal growth techniques.
(2) Quantum wire : One-dimensional nanostructures are called

nanowires. They have two quantum-confined directions but
one unconfined direction available for electrical
conduction.Electron is confined in direction and can move
freely in only one direction.They can be used as electron wave
guides.
(3) Quantum dot : Zero dimensional nanostructure is called

quantum dot (QD) nanocrystal.A quantum dot is confined to
three dimensions.Quantum dots have well defined discrete
(quantized) energy levels.
In quantum dots, the charge carriers are confined in all three

dimensions which the electrons exhibit a discrete atomic-like energy
spectrum. Quantum wires are formed when two dimensions of the
system are confined. In quantum well, charge carriers (electrons and
holes) are confined to move in a plane and are free to move in a
twodimensional. As more number of the dimension is confined, more
discrete energy levels can be found.
SENSORS :
A sensor is a device which detects changes in environment.That is,it

measures physical input from the environment and converts it into
signal/data. Our introduction is limited to gas sensors. Thus,a sensor
is a device that produces a response upon exposure to some stimulus
through introducing functionally related output. The response is an alert
in one or more of the sensor properties such as mass, electrical
conductivity, and capacitance. Therefore, sensors enable us to monitor
the environment around us and to use that information for different
purposes.
Gas sensors are defined as devices which changes physical properties

upon exposure to gas and transforms into data signal.Thus, A gas
sensor is a device which detects the presence or concentration of gases
in the atmosphere. Based on the concentration of the gas the sensor
produces a corresponding potential difference by changing the
resistance of the material inside the sensor, which can be measured as
output voltage. Based on this voltage value the type and concentration
of the gas can be estimated. The type of gas the sensor could detect
depends on the sensing material present inside the sensor.
Thus,materials that change their properties depending on the ambient
gas can be utilized as gas sensing materials. Usually changes in the
electrical conductance in response to environmental gases are
monitored. Many metal oxides are suitable for detecting combustible

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INTRODUCTION

One of the important effects in the nanotechnology is the quantum

CLASSIFICATIONS OF QUANTUM CONFINEMENT

Based on the confinement direction, a quantum confined structure is

(1) Quantum well : Two-dimensional nanostructure is referred

(2) Quantum wire : One-dimensional nanostructures are called

(3) Quantum dot : Zero dimensional nanostructure is called

In quantum dots, the charge carriers are confined in all three

A sensor is a device which detects changes in environment.That is,it

Gas sensors are defined as devices which changes physical properties

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