Design of a field ionization gas sensor and investigation of oblique manganese nano-wires performance as an electrode

A gas sensor is designed on the basis of field ionization and the performance of 90 nm thick obliquely grown man- ganese nano-wires thin film on copper substrate using the designed sensor is investigated. It is shown that this de- sign in conjunction with this type of thin films (i.e., sculptured thin films) that consist of relatively sharp tips and high degree of void fraction can be used under appropriate pressure and potential difference, to ionize any gas (e.g., nitrogen and argon used in this work) at a certain break voltage. This work shows that use of nano-structures, in particular nano-sculptured thin films, as anode and cathode instead of conductive metals such as copper reduces the break voltage considerably. In addition, minute amount of gas can be detected in this sensor and it works fine at room temperature and there is no need for heating accessories.