Highly selective nanostructure sensors and methods of detecting target analytes

1. A multi-analyte sensor, comprising:

a semiconductor nanostructure having an outer surface;

first nanoparticles of metal-oxide, said first nanoparticles functionalizing said outer surface of said semiconductor nanostructure, said first nanoparticles having a first adsorption profile; and

second nanoparticles of metal or metal-oxide, said second nanoparticles functionalizing said outer surface of said semiconductor structure, said second nanoparticles having a second adsorption profile,

wherein a target analyte preferentially adsorbs on one of said first or second nanoparticles and thereby enables detection of said target analyte, and an interfering analyte preferentially adsorbs on the other of said first or second nanoparticles.

2. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein said sensor exhibits a change in output upon detection of said target analyte, said output selected from the group consisting of current, voltage and resistance.

3. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein said semiconductor nanostructure comprises a plurality of segments coupled in series or in parallel to define a current path.

4. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein said semiconductor nanostructure comprises a material selected from the group consisting of gallium nitride (GaN), indium nitride (InN), aluminum gallium nitride (ALGaN), zinc oxide (ZnO), and Indium arsenide (InAs).

5. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein said first nanoparticles comprise one or more metal-oxide nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles, tin oxide (SnO 2 ) nanoparticles, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles, copper oxide (Cu x O x ) nanoparticles, cobalt oxide (Co x O x ) nanoparticles, iron oxide (Fe x O x ) nanoparticles, zinc magnesium oxide (Zn 1-x Mg x O) nanoparticles, magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles, vanadium oxide (V x O x ) nanoparticles, lanthanum oxide (La 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, zirconium oxide (ZrO 2 ) nanoparticles, aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, strontium oxide (SrO) nanoparticles, lanthanum oxide (La 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, cerium oxide (Ce x O x ) nanoparticles, praseodymium oxide (Pr x O x ) nanoparticles, promethium oxide (Pm 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, samarium oxide (Sm 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, europium oxide (Eu 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, gadolinium oxide (Gd 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, terbium oxide (Tb x O x ) nanoparticles, dysprosium oxide (Dy 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, holmium oxide (Ho 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, erbium oxide (Er 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, thulium oxide (Tm 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, ytterbium oxide (Yb 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, and lutetium oxide (Lu 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles.

6. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein said second nanoparticles comprise one or more metal-oxide nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nanoparticles, tin oxide (SnO 2 ) nanoparticles, zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles, nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles, copper oxide (Cu x O x ) nanoparticles, cobalt oxide (Co x O x ) nanoparticles, iron oxide (Fe x O x ) nanoparticles, zinc magnesium oxide (Zn 1-x Mg x O) nanoparticles, magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles, vanadium oxide (V x O x ) nanoparticles, lanthanum oxide (La 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, zirconium oxide (ZrO 2 ) nanoparticles, aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, strontium oxide (SrO) nanoparticles, lanthanum oxide (La 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, cerium oxide (Ce x O x ) nanoparticles, praseodymium oxide (Pr x O x ) nanoparticles, promethium oxide (Pm 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, samarium oxide (Sm 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, europium oxide (Eu 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, gadolinium oxide (Gd 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, terbium oxide (Tb x O x ) nanoparticles, dysprosium oxide (Dy 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, holmium oxide (Ho 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, erbium oxide (Er 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, thulium oxide (Tm 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, ytterbium oxide (Yb 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles, and lutetium oxide (Lu 2 O 3 ) nanoparticles.

7. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein said second nanoparticles comprise one or more metal nanoparticles selected from the group consisting of lithium nanoparticles, sodium nanoparticles, potassium nanoparticles, rubidium nanoparticles, cesium nanoparticles, francium nanoparticles, beryllium nanoparticles, magnesium nanoparticles, calcium nanoparticles, strontium nanoparticles, barium nanoparticles, radium nanoparticles, aluminum nanoparticles, gallium nanoparticles, indium nanoparticles, tin nanoparticles, thallium nanoparticles, lead nanoparticles, bismuth nanoparticles, scandium nanoparticles, titanium nanoparticles, vanadium nanoparticles, chromium nanoparticles, manganese nanoparticles, iron nanoparticles, cobalt nanoparticles, nickel nanoparticles, copper nanoparticles, zinc nanoparticles, yttrium nanoparticles, zirconium nanoparticles, niobium nanoparticles, molybdenum nanoparticles, technetium nanoparticles, ruthenium nanoparticles, rhodium nanoparticles, palladium nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles, cadmium nanoparticles, lanthanum nanoparticles, hafnium nanoparticles, tantalum nanoparticles, tungsten nanoparticles, rhenium nanoparticles, osmium nanoparticles, iridium nanoparticles, platinum nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, mercury nanoparticles, and combinations or alloys thereof.

8. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein said sensor is capable of detecting said target analyte at a temperature of less than about 100° C.

9. The sensor of claim 8 , wherein said sensor is capable of detecting said target analytes at a temperature of between about 18° C. and about 24° C.

10. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein said target analyte is a gas.

11. The sensor of claim 10 , wherein said gas is selected from the group consisting of NO x , H 2 , CH 4 , CO 2 , CO, NH 3 , CO, O 2 , SO x , H 2 S, Cl 2 , and HCN.

12. The sensor of claim 11 , wherein said gas is O 2 .

13. The sensor of claim 11 , wherein said gas is CO 2 .

14. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein said target analyte is a volatile organic compound (VOC).

15. The sensor of claim 14 , wherein said VOC is selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, chlorobenzene, formaldehyde benzene, formaldehyde, methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, hexane, acetone, tetrachloroethylene, methyl tert-butyl ether, methylene chloride, D-limonene, methylene chloride, an alkane, a cycloalkane, an alkene, a ketone, a silane, a siloxane, and mixtures thereof.

16. The sensor of claim 15 , wherein said VOC is an alkane selected from the group consisting of propane, butane, methane, ethane, pentane and hexane.

17. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein said target analyte is a chemical warfare agent (CWA).

18. The sensor of claim 17 , wherein said CWA is selected from the group consisting of tabun (GA), sarin (GB), soman (GD), cyclosarin (GF), sulfur mustard (HD), and nitrogen mustard (HN).

19. The sensor of claim 17 , wherein said CWA is a simulant chemical selected from the group consisting of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) and triethyl phosphonate (TEP).

20. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein said sensor exhibits altered conductivity upon exposure to said target analyte in the presence of UV excitation.

21. The sensor of claim 1 , further comprising:

a substrate having an upper surface, said semiconductor nanostructure disposed on said upper surface of said substrate; and

a microheater disposed on said upper surface of said substrate and configured to stabilize said semiconductor nanostructure in conditions of variable humidity or temperature.

22. The sensor of claim 21 , further comprising a temperature and humidity sensing element disposed on said upper surface of said substrate.

23. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein a concentration of said target analyte is between about 1 parts per million and about 50 parts per billion.

24. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein said sensor has a response and recovery time of less than about 180 seconds.