Enhancing Methane Gas Sensing through Defect Engineering in Ag–Ru Co-doped ZnO Nanorods

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.4c03252
• Publication Date: 2024-05-10T18:07:45Z
• Authors: Xun Li; Hui Hu; Tian Tan; Mengjing Sun; Yuwen Bao; Zhongbing Huang; Sohail Muhammad; Xiaohong Xia; Yun Gao
• Keywords: Nanorod

Detection of leaks flammable methane (CH4) gas in a timely manner can mitigate health, safety, and environmental risks. Zinc oxide (ZnO), polar semiconductor with controllable surface defects, is promising material for sensing. In this study, Ag-Ru co-doped into self-assembled ZnO nanorod arrays (ZnO NRs) was prepared by one-step hydrothermal method. The sample shows good hydrophobic property as result its particular microstructure, which results high humidity resistance. addition, oxygen vacancy density significantly increased after co-doping. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed an exceptionally charge accumulated at the Ru sites formation localized strong electric field, provides additional energy CH4 reaction •O2- room temperature. Optimized AgRu0.025-ZnO demonstrated outstanding sensing performance, limit detection (LOD) low 2.24 ppm under free-heat free-light conditions. These findings suggest that introducing defects lattice, such vacancies ions, offers approach to improving performance.