The Infona portal uses cookies, i.e. strings of text saved by a browser on the user's device. The portal can access those files and use them to remember the user's data, such as their chosen settings (screen view, interface language, etc.), or their login data. By using the Infona portal the user accepts automatic saving and using this information for portal operation purposes. More information on the subject can be found in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By closing this window the user confirms that they have read the information on cookie usage, and they accept the privacy policy and the way cookies are used by the portal. You can change the cookie settings in your browser.
An organic vapor sensitive device using anodized porous silicon has been developed. The device consists of two pn junctions surrounded by the porous silicon layer as a vapor sensing element. The devices show an increase of current for exposure to thousands ppm of organic vapor at room temperature. A high sensitivity is observed for ethanol vapor. The porous silicon combined with the reverse biased pn junction plays an important role for vapor sensing. It is discussed that the adsorption of polar molecules in the vicinity of pn junction induces a 'soft' breakdown in the reverse biased pn junction.