BC-MOS: The novel bacterial cellulose based MOS gas sensors

Recently a high interest has grown around the use of organic materials, as cellulose, in engineering and electronic fields due to the possibility to create hybrid devices. The objective of this work was to create a new generation of biocompatible bacterial cellulose Metal Oxides (MOX) gas sensors. ZnO semiconductor sensing material was used due to its well-known functional performances and the UV light activation possibility at room temperature. Bacterial cellulose membranes have been produced, active ZnO layer was deposited and the final sensing device was assembled and tested in presence of different chemical compounds. The prototypes showed good response to nitrogen dioxide, acetone and ethanol at room temperature, demonstrating the possibility to use bacterial cellulose as eco and environmental friendly composite transducers material for, but not limited to, chemical sensors.