The Electrical Properties of Gold Nanowires and Their Applications in Chemical Sensing
Open Access
Author:
Keebaugh, Shawn Alan
Graduate Program:
Engineering Science and Mechanics
Degree:
Doctor of Philosophy
Document Type:
Dissertation
Date of Defense:
April 16, 2009
Committee Members:
Stephen Fonash, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor Stephen Fonash, Committee Chair/Co-Chair Jun Huang, Committee Member Jerzy Ruzyllo, Committee Member Jian Xu, Committee Member Judith Todd Copley, Committee Member
Keywords:
mercury gold sensor nanowire
Abstract:
In this study, we explore the morphology dependent electrical behavior of gold nanowires and exploit these phenomena to develop robust, highly responsive gold nanowire sensors capable of detecting low concentrations of elemental and ionic mercury. The sensor design is straightforward; it consists of a single gold nanowire isolated between electrical contact pads. Accordingly, it is highly manufacturable, low power, and suitable for integration into sensor arrays. The nanosensor is based on electrical resistivity changes that arise upon adsorption of mercury onto gold surfaces. We demonstrate the advantages of the nanoscale design for this application and substantiate its use for other chemical detection applications. Though the gold-mercury system is reported here, the effects observed are universal and can be utilized in other metal-analyte combinations as well.
