Studies of changes in electrical resistance of zinc oxide nanostructures under the influence of variable gaseous environments

The paper deals with the investigations concerning the influence of the changing gas environment on electrical resistance of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanostructures. The investigated structures are wide-gap semiconductors with the morphology of ZnO flower-shaped agglomerates of nanostructures. The resistance changes of these nanostructures were tested under the influence of various gases such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), hydrogen (H₂), ammonia (NH₃) and also of humidity changes of carrier gases. To clarify the mechanisms of physicochemical processes in ZnO nanostructures during their interaction with gaseous environments, investigations were performed in two different carrier gases, viz. in synthetic air and in nitrogen. The study was carried out at a structure temperature of 200C.