Enhanced gas sensing performance of Li-doped ZnO nanoparticle film by the synergistic effect of oxygen interstitials and oxygen vacancies

Li doped ZnO (Zn1−xLixO) nanoparticles with different content were synthesized. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated that the ratio of oxygen to zinc for ZnO increased with increasing of Li content from x = 0 to 0.2, which had been attributed to the introduction of oxygen interstitial by Li dopant. The sensing performance and the temperature-dependent conductivity were investigated. It is observed that Li doped ZnO showed higher sensitivity and selectivity compared to the undoped ZnO. The 0.1 Li doped ZnO performed the maximum responses of 71.5 and 40.2 for 100 ppm methanol and formaldehyde, respectively, at 350 °C. The research showed that the oxygen vacancies served as active sites which supported the oxygen adsorption and reaction, oxygen interstitials served as active sites to oxidize the reducing gases and produce electrons. The enhanced sensing performance of Li doped ZnO was attributed to the synergistic effect of oxygen interstitials and oxygen vacancies.