We present a hydrogen sensor based on single-electron tunneling in two dimensional (2D) hexagonal closed packed arrays of palladium nano-islands. The parameters of the palladium nanoparticles were extracted from the experimental TEM results by the image processing method. We also assumed random offset charges for every palladium nanoparticle. Using the SIMON simulator, the emergence of Coulomb blockade was inspected by studying the current-voltage (IV) characteristics of equivalent circuits consisting of palladium islands and tunneling junctions. After ensuring the emergence of the Coulomb blockade phenomena in these arrays, the possibilities for using these arrays as a hydrogen sensor were studied. The change in the tunneling resistances and capacitances were calculated according to the lattice parameter expansion of the palladium nanoparticles at different pressures of the hydrogen gas. The changes in the IV characteristics were investigated after exposing the arrays into hydrogen gas. The change in the resistance of the arrays before and after the exposure to hydrogen were extracted. According to the results, this configuration shows single-electron tunneling and can be used as a hydrogen gas sensor.
展开▼
