Nanodevices based on van der Waals heterostructures have
been predicted,
and shown, to have unprecedented operational principles and functionalities
that hold promise for highly sensitive and selective gas sensors with
rapid response times and minimal power consumption. In this study,
we fabricated gas sensors based on vertical MoS2/WS2 van der Waals heterostructures and investigated their gas
sensing capabilities. Compared with individual MoS2 or
WS2 gas sensors, the MoS2/WS2 van
der Waals heterostructure gas sensors are shown to have enhanced sensitivity,
faster response times, rapid recovery, and a notable selectivity,
especially toward NO2. In combination with a theoretical
model, we show that it is important to take into account created trapped
states (flat bands) induced by the adsorption of gas molecules, which
capture charges and alter the inherent built-in potential of van der
Waals heterostructure gas sensors. Additionally, we note that the
performance of these MoS2/WS2 heterostructure
gas sensors could be further enhanced using electrical gating and
mechanical strain. Our findings highlight the importance of understanding
the effects of altered built-in potentials arising from gas molecule
adsorption induced flat bands, thus offering a way to enhance the
gas sensing performance of van der Waals heterostructure gas sensors.