Approach to the Silicon Sensor with Pre-threshold Electron Emission Readout to Detect Exhaled Breath Gases

摘要

Preliminary diagnosis of human diseases such as cancer and diabetes is possible via the detection of violate organic compounds (VOCs) contained in exhaled breath gases. A pre-threshold electron emission yield from a solid emitter depends on the gas molecules adhered to the emitter, if the electron work function is influenced. The paper demonstrates that pre-threshold electron emission from a silicon solid emitter could be employed to detect exhaled VOCs.