Study of a New Field-Effect Resistive Hydrogen Sensor Based on a Pd/Oxide/AlGaAs Transistor

A new and interesting field-effect resistive hydrogen sensor, based on the current-voltage characteristics in the linear region of an AlGaAs-based pseudomorphic high-electron-mobility transistor structure and high hydrogen sensitivity of a palladium (Pd) metal, is studied and demonstrated. An oxide layer between Pd and AlGaAs is used to increase the number of hydrogen adsorption sites, and improve hydrogen detection sensitivity. A simple model is employed to interpret the hydrogen adsorption and sensing mechanism. The dissociation of H
₂
, diffusion of H atoms and formation of a dipolar layer cause a significant decrease in channel resistance. In comparison with other resistor-type hydrogen sensors, the studied device demonstrates the considerable advantages of lower detection limit (< 4.3 ppm H
₂
/air) and higher sensitivity (24.7% in 9970 ppm H
₂
/air) at room temperature. Also, the studied device exhibits a smaller resistance (several 10 Omega) and a smaller operating voltage (les 0.3 V) which are superior to other resistive sensors with typically larger resistances (ranged from kiloohms to megaohms) and larger voltages (ges 1 V). Consequentially, the studied resistive sensor provides the promise for low-power GaAs-based electronic and microelectromechanical-system applications