A highly sensitive and selective ZnO-based ammonia sensor: Fe- doping effect

Abstract This study investigates the gas sensing capabilities of ZnO and Fe-doped ZnO films prepared via a cost-effective spin coating method. The films were characterized optically, structurally, and morphologically. X-ray diffraction revealed good crystal quality with a polycrystalline nature, and wurzite structure, though crystal quality and crystallite size decreased with Fe doping. Optical measurements indicated an increased optical band gap from 3.205 ± 0.002 to 3.220 ± 0.002 eV after Fe doping. Scanning electron microscope images confirmed spherical grainy structures with reduced grain sizes after Fe doping. Gas sensing measurements at room temperature (RT) at an exposure of vapors of various toxic chemicals (acetone, ethanol, propanol, methanol, and ammonia), demonstrated a highly selective nature of ZnO and Fe-ZnO towards the ammonia. The Fe-doping into ZnO improved the ammonia sensing capability of ZnO film. The Fe-ZnO film exhibited a gas response of 388.8 ± 5.5 at 400 ppm ammonia exposure, which was nearly 10 times larger than that of ZnO film with a response/recovery time of 22/51 s, good stability, and good repeatability. The Fe-ZnO film’s higher response is attributed to its smaller grain sizes and surplus of charge carriers after Fe doping which promote the adsorption of extra oxygen ions onto the film’s surface and the subsequent interaction between the adsorbed oxygen ions ammonia molecules. It could detect up to the lower limit of 1 ppm ammonia with a response of 24.2 ± 0.9, which is better than the previous reports. These results reveal the Fe-ZnO film as a viable material for developing a cost-effective and efficient ammonia sensor at room temperature.