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Influence of defect chemistry on NO2 gas sensing of Li-ZnO thin films

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Abstract

In this study, we explore the influence of Li dopant on the morphological, electrical and structural properties of ZnO thin films employed for gas-sensing applications. The deposited thin-film gas sensors were evaluated using X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Hall measurements to assess the chemical and physical features of Li-ZnO thin-film gas sensors. All films are crystallized with hcp structure confirmed from X-ray diffraction analysis. From field-emission scanning electron microscopy analysis, spherical and uneven distribution of particles is observed in all the thin-film samples. The conductivity of the thin-film gas sensors obtained from the Hall-measurement system shows that all samples except 5wt%Li-ZnO exhibit n-type conductivity. XPS studies confirmed the presence of defect states in all deposited samples. Enhanced nitrogen dioxide (NO2) gas-sensing properties by incorporating an alkali metal (Li, 1–10 wt%) in ZnO were explored. Gas sensing measurements reveal that 1wt% Li-ZnO thin films exhibit remarkable sensitivity (20.94) and fast response/recovery (3s/112s) time towards 45 ppm of NO2 gas. The results are discussed with the influence of defect density states in ZnO and correlated with structural, morphological and electrical parameters.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, St. Thomas’ College (Autonomous), Thrissur, 680001, India

    K K Jasmi & T Anto Johny

  2. Department of Instrumentation, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Cochin, 682022, India

    V S Siril & K N Madhusoodanan

  3. Centre for Materials for Electronics Technology (C-MET), Thrissur, 680581, India

    V Kumar

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  1. K K Jasmi
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  2. T Anto Johny
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  3. V S Siril
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  4. V Kumar
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  5. K N Madhusoodanan
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Correspondence to K K Jasmi.

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Jasmi, K.K., Anto Johny, T., Siril, V.S. et al. Influence of defect chemistry on NO2 gas sensing of Li-ZnO thin films. Bull Mater Sci 45, 203 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12034-022-02798-y

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