Hydrogen-Terminated Diamond Surface as a Gas Sensor: A Comparative Study of Its Sensitivities

A nanocrystalline diamond (NCD) layer is used as an active (sensing) part of a conductivity gas sensor. The properties of the sensor with an NCD with H-termination (response and time characteristic of resistance change) are measured by the same equipment with a similar setup and compared with commercial sensors, a conductivity sensor with a metal oxide (MOX) active material (resistance change), and an infrared pyroelectric sensor (output voltage change) in this study. The deposited layer structure is characterized and analyzed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Raman spectroscopy. Electrical properties (resistance change for conductivity sensors and output voltage change for the IR pyroelectric sensor) are examined for two types of gases, oxidizing (NO2) and reducing (NH3). The parameters of the tested sensors are compared and critically evaluated. Subsequently, differences in the gas sensing principles of these conductivity sensors, namely H-terminated NCD and SnO2, are described.

A THz Spectrometer Using Band Pass Filters

We describe a THz spectrometer operating between 1.2 and 10.5 THz, consisting of band pass filters made by metasurfaces. The source is made of a 10 W small black body. The detector is a high sensitivity room temperature pyroelectric sensor. Various techniques that are used to prepare samples are described. The spectra obtained are compared with those measured with a Fourier Transformer Infrared Spectrometer on the same samples. Our instrument, which uses commercial technologies available at the present time, can constitute an economical alternative to very expensive spectrometers. It has already been successfully used, obtaining precise spectroscopic measurements on many inorganic powders.

Sensitivity of the tetraaminodiphenyl based pyroelectric sensor from visible to sub-THz range

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to study the spectral sensitivity characteristics of new pyroelectric sensor based on tetraaminodiphenyl film within the wavelength range of 0.4-10 µm and 300-3,000 µm. Design/methodology/approach Mylar film with the thickness of about 70 µm was used as the input window. The MDR-41 monochromator-based spectrometric complex and the quasi-optical spectrometer with the set of backward-wave oscillators were used for measurements of the pyrodetector spectral characteristics within the 0.4-10 µm and 300-3,000 µm ranges, respectively. Findings Mylar was found to have absorption lines within the range of 0.4-10 µm, which must be taken into account when broadband detectors developing. The noise equivalent power in the visible and infrared ranges was less than 6 × 10–10 W/Hz1/2, which is about five times lower than for analogue ones. In the sub-THz range, the pyrodetector sensitivity is 2-8 times higher than the Golay cell. The sensitivity of such pyrodetector weakly depends on the wavelength in the total measured range. Practical implications The pyroelectric sensor has good prospects for use in super wide spectral range, from ultraviolet to millimeter radiation, in spectrometers for scientific research, in industry for the operational control of THz radiation sources, as well as in security THz-systems. Originality/value The spectral sensitivity characteristics of the pyroelectric photosensor based on TADPh in the visible, infrared and terahertz ranges were measured. The prospects for the use of such sensors were determined.