Carbon nanofiber flexible gas sensor modulated by UV light

Herein, we present a flexible gas sensor based on carbon nanofibers (CNFs). The sensing device was fabricated by means of low-cost techniques: inkjet printing and spray coating. Characterization on the use of ultraviolet (UV) light in order to modulate the sensor signal was performed. Sensor response and characteristics times (response time, τ
_resp
; and recovery time, τ
_rec
) were fully characterized. UV illumination was also chosen to anneal the sensing active layer in the fabrication process and to fasten desorption of the gas adsorbed, achieving a stable sensor signal. Furthermore, better conditions of UV radiation to optimize τ
_resp
and τ
_rec
were found.