The conversion of PN-junction influencing the piezoelectric output of a CuO/ZnO nanoarray nanogenerator and its application as a room-temperature self-powered active H₂S sensor.

Room-temperature, high H2S sensing has been realized from a CuO/ZnO nanoarray self-powered, active gas sensor. The piezoelectric output of CuO/ZnO nanoarrays can act not only as the power source of the device, but also as the H2S sensing signal at room temperature. Upon exposure to 800 ppm H2S at room temperature, the piezoelectric output of the device greatly decreased from 0.738 V (in air) to 0.101 V. The sensitivity increased to 629.8, much higher than bare ZnO nanoarrays. As the device was exposed to H2S, a CuO/ZnO PN-junction was converted into a CuS/ZnO Ohmic contact, which greatly increased the electron density in the nanowire and enhanced the screen effect on the piezoelectric output. Our results can stimulate a research trend on designing new composite piezoelectric material for high-performance self-powered active gas sensors.