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Silica nanosprings (NS) were coated with gallium nitride (GaN) by high-temperature atomic layer deposition. The deposition temperature was 800 °C using trimethylgallium (TMG) as the Ga source and ammonia (NH3) as the reactive nitrogen source. The growth of GaN on silica nanosprings was compared with deposition of GaN thin films to elucidate the growth properties. The effects of buffer layers of aluminum nitride (AlN) and aluminum oxide (Al2O3) on the stoichiometry, chemical bonding, and morphology of GaN thin films were determined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), high-resolution x-ray diffraction (HRXRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). Scanning and transmission electron microscopy of coated silica nanosprings were compared with corresponding data for the GaN thin films. As grown, GaN on NS is conformal and amorphous. Upon introducing buffer layers of Al2O3 or AlN or combinations thereof, GaN is nanocrystalline with an average crystallite size of 11.5 ± 0.5 nm. The electrical properties of the GaN coated NS depends on whether or not a buffer layer is present and the choice of the buffer layer. In addition, the IV curves of GaN coated NS and the thin films (TF) with corresponding buffer layers, or lack thereof, show similar characteristic features, which supports the conclusion that atomic layer deposition (ALD) of GaN thin films with and without buffer layers translates to 1D nanostructures. 

The effect of UV illumination on the room temperature electrical detection of ammonium nitrate vapor was examined. The sensor consists of a self-assembled ensemble of silica nanosprings coated with zinc oxide. UV illumination mitigates the baseline drift of the resistance relative to operation under dark conditions. It also lowers the baseline resistance of the sensor by 25% compared to dark conditions. At high ammonium nitrate concentrations (120 ppm), the recovery time after exposure is virtually identical with or without UV illumination. At low ammonium nitrate concentrations (20 ppm), UV illumination assists with refreshing of the sensor by stimulating analyte desorption, thereby enabling the sensor to return to its baseline resistance. Under dark conditions and low ammonium nitrate concentrations, residual analyte builds up with each exposure, which inhibits the sensor from returning to its original baseline resistance and subsequently impedes sensing due to permanent occupation of absorption sites.