Chemical image generation with a grid-gate device.

Scanning light pulse technique generating distinctive chemical images of diverse gases is demonstrated using a sensing arrangement that allows unrestricted choice of sensing materials, disregarding its conductivity or morphology. The present device, a metal oxide semiconductor structure, disentangles biasing from chemical functions by providing an inert grid as a gate that supplies the proper biasing, while functional materials even in the form of disconnected clusters can be used for sensing. The reading of conductimetric chemical responses of clustered materials, in nominal operating conditions, is demonstrated by the generation of chemical images acquired for inversion biasing conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]