Low-frequency noise in Au-decorated graphene-Si Schottky barrier diode at selected ambient gases

We report results of the current-voltage characteristics and low-frequency noise in Au nanoparticle (AuNP)-decorated graphene-Si Schottky barrier diodes. Measurements were conducted in ambient air with addition of either of two organic vapors, tetrahydrofuran [(CH2)(4)O; THF] and chloroform (CHCl3), as also during yellow light illumination (592 nm), close to the measured particle plasmon polariton frequency of the Au nanoparticle layer. We observed a shift of the DC characteristics at forward voltages (forward resistance region) when tetrahydrofuran vapor was admitted (in a Au-decorated graphene-Si Schottky diode), and a tiny shift under yellow irradiation when chloroform was added (in not decorated graphene-Si Schottky diode). Significantly larger difference in the low-frequency noise was observed for the two gases during yellow light irradiation, compared with no illumination. The noise intensity was suppressed by AuNPs when compared with noise in graphene-Si Schottky diode without an AuNP layer. We conclude that flicker noise generated in the investigated Au-decorated Schottky diodes can be utilized for gas detection.