Abstract: A gas sensor includes: a first electrode; a metal oxide layer that is on the first electrode and has a resistance value that changes when the metal oxide layer contacts hydrogen atoms; a second electrode on the metal oxide layer; and an insulating film that covers at least a part of side surfaces of the first electrode, the metal oxide layer, and the second electrode. In the metal oxide layer, a part of a first interface between the first electrode and the metal oxide layer is not covered by the insulating film and is exposed to a gas.

Abstract: A non-volatile memory cell includes a bottom electrode, a top electrode having a conductive material, a resistive layer interposed between the bottom electrode and the top electrode, and side portions covering sides of the top electrode and the resistive layer. The side portions contain an oxide of the conductive material. The non-volatile memory cell further includes a contact wire disposed on the top electrode. A width of the contact wire is less than a width between lateral outer surfaces of the side portions.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes a first electrode having a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface; a second electrode having a third main surface facing the second main surface and a fourth main surface opposite to the third main surface; a metal oxide layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, and being in contact with the second main surface and the third main surface; and an insulating film covering at least a part of the first electrode, a part of the second electrode, and at least a part of the metal oxide layer. At least a part of the fourth main surface is exposed to gas which contains a gas molecule including a hydrogen atom. A resistance value of the metal oxide layer decreases when the second electrode is in contact with the gas molecule.

Abstract: A gas sensor device includes gas sensors and switches. The switches are connected to the respective gas sensors in series. The gas sensors each include: a first conductive layer; a second conductive layer; a metal oxide layer disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer; and an insulation layer covering the first conductive layer, the second conductive layer, and the metal oxide layer and having an opening from which a portion of the second conductive layer is exposed. The resistance of the gas sensor is decreased when a gas containing a hydrogen atom comes into contact with the second conductive layer.

Abstract: A gas monitoring system includes at least one sensor device that detects gas and outputs a detection result; and a gateway that receives the detection result. The at least one sensor device includes a sensor module having a gas sensor that detects gas; an analog-to-digital (A/D) converter that processes the detection result outputted from the gas sensor; a communication module that communicates with the sensor module and transmits information processed by the A/D converter exteriorly of the at least one sensor device; a power source that is an electric power source of the sensor module; and a power source that is an electric power source of the communication module.

Abstract: A hydrogen detection method using a gas sensor, in which the gas sensor includes a first conductive layer; a second conductive layer including a first region having a first thickness and a second region having a second thickness larger than the first thickness; a metal oxide layer disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer; and an insulation layer covering the first conductive layer, the second region of the second conductive layer, and the metal oxide layer and not covering the first region of the second conductive layer. The hydrogen detection method includes allowing a gas to come into contact with the first region of the second conductive layer; and detecting a hydrogen gas contained in the gas by detecting a decrease in resistance between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

Abstract: Provided is a gas detection device that includes a gas sensor, a power supply circuit that applies voltage to the gas sensor, and a control circuit that determines whether a leak of gas is present. The power supply circuit includes a reset power source that generates a first voltage, and a detection power source that generates a detection voltage for measuring resistance of a metal-oxide layer of the gas sensor. When a value of a current flowing through the metal-oxide layer is a predetermined value ITH or greater, the reset power source applies the first voltage to the gas sensor to perform a reset of resetting the metal-oxide layer of the gas sensor to a high-resistance state, and the control circuit determines that a leak of gas is present, depending on a state in which the reset is performed after the reset is performed for the first time.

Abstract: A hydrogen detection method using a gas sensor, in which the gas sensor includes a first conductive layer; a second conductive layer including a first region having a first thickness and a second region having a second thickness larger than the first thickness; a metal oxide layer disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer; and an insulation layer covering the first conductive layer, the second region of the second conductive layer, and the metal oxide layer and not covering the first region of the second conductive layer. The hydrogen detection method includes allowing a gas to come into contact with the first region of the second conductive layer; and detecting a hydrogen gas contained in the gas by detecting a decrease in resistance between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes: a gas-sensitive body layer disposed above a substrate and including a metal oxide layer; a first electrode on the gas-sensitive body layer; and a second electrode on the gas-sensitive body layer, being apart from the first electrode by a gap. The gas-sensitive body layer has a resistance change characteristic that reversibly transitions to a high-resistance state and a low-resistance state on basis of a voltage applied across the first electrode and the second electrode. At least a part of the gas-sensitive body layer is exposed to the gap. The gas-sensitive body layer has a resistance that decreases when gas containing a hydrogen atom is in contact with the second electrode.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes: a first conductive layer; a second conductive layer including a first region having a first thickness and a second region having a second thickness larger than the first thickness; a metal oxide layer disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer, the metal oxide layer including a bulk region and a local region surrounded by the bulk region, a degree of oxygen deficiency of the local region being higher than that of the bulk region; and an insulation layer covering the first conductive layer, the second region of the second conductive layer, and the metal oxide layer and not covering the first region of the second conductive layer.

Abstract: A hydrogen sensor includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; a metal oxide layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode and including a bulk area and a local area; a first insulation film covering the first electrode, the second electrode, and the metal oxide layer and having an opening reaching the second electrode; and a second insulation film being in contact with the second electrode in the opening.

Abstract: A gas-detecting apparatus includes a measurement circuit including a gas sensor and a measurement instrument and a decision circuit. Detection cells, included in the gas sensor, each include a first electrode, a second electrode having a surface exposed from an insulation layer, and a metal oxide layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The resistance values of the detection cells are each allowed to decrease by a contact of gas containing hydrogen atoms with the second electrode. The measurement instrument monitors the resistance values of the detection cells. The decision circuit decides whether the gas is detected or not based on at least one change of the resistance values.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes: a first electrode; a metal oxide layer that is on the first electrode and has a resistance value that changes when the metal oxide layer contacts hydrogen atoms; a second electrode on the metal oxide layer; and an insulating film that covers at least a part of side surfaces of the first electrode, the metal oxide layer, and the second electrode. In the metal oxide layer, a part of a first interface between the first electrode and the metal oxide layer is not covered by the insulating film and is exposed to a gas.

Abstract: A gas-detecting apparatus includes a gas sensor and a power supply circuit. The gas sensor includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; a metal oxide layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and an insulation film covering the first electrode, the second electrode, and the metal oxide layer. The insulation file having an opening from which a surface of the second electrode is exposed. The resistance value of the metal oxide layer decreases when gas containing hydrogen atoms comes into contact with the second electrode. The power supply circuit applies a predetermined voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode to increase the resistance value of the metal oxide layer before and/or after the decrease in the resistance value of the metal oxide layer.

Abstract: A gas sensor includes an insulation layer and detection cells covered with the insulation layer. Each of the plurality of detection cells includes: a first electrode; a second electrode having a surface exposed from the insulation layer; and a metal oxide layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. In each of the detection cells, a resistance value of the metal oxide layer decreases with a response time, which is different in each of the detection cells, when a gas containing a hydrogen atom comes into contact with the second electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention discloses preparation of a reflective image component and application method thereof. A reflective image component in the present invention consists of a metallic semi-continuous thin film, a porous alumina film and a high reflective metal substrate. The structure is easy in preparation, low in cost, environmental friendly regarding preparing procedures and suitable for large-scale fabrication, which plays a significant role in developing a next generation of image component; the minimum pixel in the image obtained is able to reach nano level, much smaller than the pixel in most of the self-luminous screens at present; the image also provides the ability of reversible color transformations, which can be applied to information encryption and trademark decoration and the like.

Abstract: A gas sensor device includes gas sensors and switches. The switches are connected to the respective gas sensors in series. The gas sensors each include: a first conductive layer; a second conductive layer; a metal oxide layer disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer; and an insulation layer covering the first conductive layer, the second conductive layer, and the metal oxide layer and having an opening from which a portion of the second conductive layer is exposed. The resistance of the gas sensor is decreased when a gas containing a hydrogen atom comes into contact with the second conductive layer.

Abstract: An estimation method for a variable resistance element including (i) a first electrode, (ii) a second electrode, and therebetween (iii) a variable resistance layer in which a local region is formed which has resistive status that reversibly changes according to an electric pulse applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, the estimation method including: obtaining, when changes are made to the resistive status of the local region, measurement values each indicating a resistance state after one of the changes; and determining, based on a distribution of the obtained measurement values, an estimated amount of a physical parameter regarding structural characteristics of the local region by a calculation.

Abstract: A gas-detecting apparatus includes a gas sensor and a power supply circuit. The gas sensor includes: a first electrode; a second electrode; a metal oxide layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode; and an insulation film covering the first electrode, the second electrode, and the metal oxide layer. The insulation file having an opening from which a surface of the second electrode is exposed. The resistance value of the metal oxide layer decreases when gas containing hydrogen atoms comes into contact with the second electrode. The power supply circuit applies a predetermined voltage between the first electrode and the second electrode to increase the resistance value of the metal oxide layer before and/or after the decrease in the resistance value of the metal oxide layer.

Abstract: A gas-detecting apparatus includes a measurement circuit including a gas sensor and a measurement instrument and a decision circuit. Detection cells, included in the gas sensor, each include a first electrode, a second electrode having a surface exposed from an insulation layer, and a metal oxide layer disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The resistance values of the detection cells are each allowed to decrease by a contact of gas containing hydrogen atoms with the second electrode. The measurement instrument monitors the resistance values of the detection cells. The decision circuit decides whether the gas is detected or not based on at least one change of the resistance values.