Advances in Nanostructured Acoustic Wave Technologies for Ultraviolet Sensing

Ultraviolet (UV) sensing and monitoring are critical to human health, astronomy, water purification, flame detection, secure space-to-space communications and pollution monitoring etc. In this paper, various UV sensors including semiconductor (ohmic contact photodiode, Schottky barrier photodiode) UV sensors and acoustic wave UV sensors were summarized and compared. UV sensors based on acoustic wave technologies have superior attributes, including high sensitivity, low cost, small size and remote or wireless control. Recent development of the acoustic wave based UV sensing technologies was reviewed, focusing on integration of nano-materials and nanostructures in the acoustic wave devices to enhance their sensitivity, efficiency and selectivity. Fundamental characteristics of the nanostructured acoustic wave UV sensors and their enhancing principles as well as future development were discussed.