Enhancing Ozone Gas Sensor Performance with Polypyrrole-Coated Metal-Oxide Semiconductors

The development of practical gas sensors necessitates the fulfillment of several fundamental requirements, including ultra-high sensitivity, rapid response time, and exceptional gas selectivity. Metal oxide semiconductors, such as Indium Gallium Zinc Oxide (IGZO), exhibit commendable adsorption capacity for ozone (O3) gas; however, their application is often limited by prolonged response times and the necessity for external heating to enhance performance. This study addresses these limitations by integrating the conductive polymer polypyrrole (PPy) with IGZO to fabricate advanced O3 gas sensors. Experimental results demonstrate a significant enhancement in response time upon the incorporation of PPy, as compared to the pristine IGZO material. The polypyrrole coverage facilitates faster electron transport and improved gas interaction dynamics, thereby markedly reducing the response time and energy requirements for effective O3 detection.