We report the enhanced room temperature gas sensing properties of ZnO nanorods by promoting UV activation via doped Ni in ZnO. Electrodeposition was used to grow nickel-doped ZnO nanorods on flexible substrates integrated with 365 nm UV LED. Nickel concentration varied from 0 at.% to 10 at.% in aqueous solution. An enhanced gas sensing property up to 1.61 at room temperature was measured at 6 at.% Ni-doped ZnO, but showed deteriorated sensitivity due to the formation of a NiO phase at higher Ni concentration. The mechanism for improved sensing properties can be explained by the involvement of weakly bound photo-induced oxygen ions upon the exposure of acetone gas. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.