Structural and optical properties of ZnO thin films prepared by sol-gel method with different thickness

In this work, ZnO thin films with different thickness were prepared by sol-gel method on glass substrates and the structural and optical properties of these films were studied by X-ray diffractometer, atomic force microscope, UV-visible spectrophotometer, ellipsometer and fluorophotometer, respectively. The structural analyses show that all the samples have a wurtzite structure and are preferentially oriented along the c-axis perpendicular to the substrate surface. The growth process of highly c-axis oriented ZnO thin films derived from sol-gel method is a self-template process. With the increase of film thickness, the structural disorder decreases and the crystalline quality of the films is gradually improved. A transition of crystal growth mode from vertical growth to lateral growth is observed and the transition point is found between 270 and 360 nm thickness. The optical analyses show that with the increase of film thickness, both the refractive index and ultraviolet emission intensity are improved. However, the transmittance in the visible range is hardly influenced by the film thickness, and the averages are all above 80%.     

Induced growth of high quality ZnO thin filmsby crystallized amorphous ZnO

This paper reports the induced growth of high quality ZnO thin film by crystallized amorphous ZnO. Firstly amorphous ZnO was prepared by solid-state pyrolytic reaction, then by taking crystallized amorphous ZnO as seeds (buffer layer), ZnO thin films have been grown in diethyene glycol solution of zinc acetate at 80℃. X-ray Diffraction curve indicates that the films were preferentially oriented [001] out-of-plane direction of the ZnO. Atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used to evaluate the surface morphology of the ZnO thin film. Photoluminescence spectrum exhibits a strong ultraviolet emission while the visible emission is very weak. The results indicate that high quality ZnO thin film was obtained.     

Effect of K-doping on structural and optical properties of ZnO thin films

In this work, K-doped ZnO thin films were prepared by a sol–gel method on Si(111) and glass substrates. The effect of different K-doping concentrations on structural and optical properties of the ZnO thin films was studied. The results showed that the 1 at.% K-doped ZnO thin film had the best crystallization quality and the strongest ultraviolet emission ability. When the concentration of K was above 1 at.%, the crystallization quality and ultraviolet emission ability dropped. For the K-doped ZnO thin films, there was not only ultraviolet emission, but also a blue emission signal in their photoluminescent spectra. The blue emission might be connected with K impurity or/and the intrinsic defects (Zn interstitial and Zn vacancy) of the ZnO thin films.     

Preparation of nanocone ZnO thin film and its aging effect of photoluminescence

In this work, a nanocone ZnO thin film was prepared by electron beam evaporation on a Si (1 0 0) substrate. The structural properties of the film were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy and laser Raman scattering, respectively. The aging effect of the nanocone ZnO thin film was studied by photoluminescence spectra. The structural analyses show that the prepared ZnO thin film has a hexagonal wurtzite structure and is preferentially oriented along the c-axis perpendicular to the substrate surface. The photoluminescence spectra show that with the increase of aging time, the green emission of the nanocone ZnO thin film gradually decreases while the ultraviolet emission somewhat increases. The reason for this phenomenon is likely that the green-emission-related oxygen vacancies in the film are gradually filled up. The Raman scattering analyses also suggest that the intensity of the Raman peak related to oxygen vacancies in the nanocone ZnO thin film declines after the film is aged in air for a year. Therefore, the authors think the green emission is mainly connected with oxygen vacancy defects.     

Comparison of ZnO thin films grown on a polycrystalline 3C-SiC buffer layer by RF magnetron sputtering and a sol-gel method

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films were deposited on a polycrystalline (poly) 3C-SiC buffer layer using RF magnetron sputtering and a sol-gel method. The post-deposition annealing was performed on ZnO thin films prepared using both methods. The formation of ZnO piezoelectric thin films with less residual stress was due to a close lattice mismatch of the ZnO and SiC layers as obtained by the sputtering method. Nanocrystalline, porous ZnO film prepared using the sol-gel method showed strong ultraviolet UV emission at a wavelength of 380 nm. The 3C-SiC buffer layer improved the optical and piezoelectric properties of the ZnO film produced by the two deposition methods. Moreover, the different structures of the ZnO films on the 3C-SiC intermediate layer caused by the different deposition techniques were also considered and discussed.     

退火对溶胶-凝胶法制备的ZnO薄膜结构和光致发光的影响

采用溶胶-凝胶法在n-Si(100)衬底上制备ZnO薄膜并从三个方面对其研究。X射线衍射结果表明,在含氧气氛中退火的ZnO薄膜为多晶六角纤锌矿结构,有明显的c轴择优结晶取向;退火时间的长短和温度的高低对结晶取向性和粒径均有较大影响,通过进一步的研究发现最佳处理温度在500℃左右。用扫描电子显微镜观察样品的表面和侧面形貌,晶体的生长比较均匀,粒径平均在70~160nm范围内,与XRD测量结果相一致。室温下ZnO胶体的光致发光谱表明,随着胶体老化时间的延长,胶体的紫外峰位发生了蓝移。室温下ZnO薄膜的光致发光谱表明,紫外部分的发光峰位在365,390nm,发光强度较强;在可见光区的发光强度相对较弱,但是还没有被氧完全抑制掉。     

Effect of substrate and annealing on the structural and optical properties of ZnO:Al films

ZnO:Al thin films with c-axis preferred orientation were deposited on glass and Si substrates using RF magnetron sputtering technique. The effect of substrate on the structural and optical properties of ZnO:Al films were investigated. The results showed a strong blue peak from glass-substrate ZnO:Al film whose intensity became weak when deposited on Si substrate. However, the full width at half maxima (FWHM) of the Si-substrate ZnO:Al (0 0 2) peaks decreased evidently and the grain size increased. Finally, we discussed the influence of annealing temperature on the structural and optical properties of Si-substrate ZnO:Al films. After annealing, the crystal quality of Si-substrate ZnO:Al thin films was markedly improved and the intensity of blue peak (∼445 nm) increased noticeably. This observation may indicate that the visible emission properties of the ZnO:Al films are dependent more on the film crystallinity than on the film stoichiometry.     

(Li,Cu)掺杂ZnO薄膜的发光性质

利用溶胶-凝胶(Sol-gel)法在n型si(100)衬底上制备(Li,Cu)掺杂ZnO薄膜,研究了室温下薄膜的结构、形貌和光致发光性能.研究结果表明,随着Li掺杂浓度的增加,可见光发光强度增加,可见光发射可能是源于单电离氧窄位到价带顶以及单电离氧空位到Li替位Zn(Lizn)受主跃迁的双重作用.与此类似,Cu掺杂Zn...     

过渡金属与F共掺杂ZnO薄膜结构及磁、光特性

采用溶胶-凝胶法在玻璃衬底上制备了过渡金属元素与F共掺杂Zn_0.98-xTM_xF_0.02O (TM_x=Cu_0.02, Ni_0.01, Mn_0.05, Fe_0.02, Co_0.05)薄膜, 进而利用X射线衍射仪、扫描电子显微镜、紫外-可见透过谱、光致发光及振动样品磁强计等研究了薄膜的表面形貌、微结构、禁带宽度及光致发光(PL)和室温磁学特性. 研究表明: 掺杂离子都以替位的方式进入了ZnO晶格, 掺杂不会破坏ZnO的纤锌矿结构. 其中Zn_0.93Co_0.05F_0.02O薄膜样品的颗粒尺寸最大, 薄膜的结晶度最好且c轴择优取向明显; Zn_0.93Mn_0.05F_0.02O薄膜样品的颗粒尺寸最小, 薄膜结晶度最差且无明显的c轴择优取; Cu, Ni, Fe与F共掺杂样品的颗粒尺寸大小几乎相同. TM掺杂样品均表现出很高的透过率, 同时掺杂后的薄膜样品的禁带宽度都有不同程度的红移. PL谱观察到Zn_0.98-xTM_xF_0.02O薄膜的发射峰主要由较强的紫外发射峰和较弱的蓝光发射峰组成. Zn_0.93Mn_0.05F_0.02O薄膜样品的紫外发光峰最弱, 蓝光发射最强, 饱和磁化强度最大; 与之相反的是Zn_0.96Cu_0.02F_0.02O薄膜, 其紫外发光峰最强, 蓝光发射最弱, 饱和磁化强度最小. 结合微结构和光学性质对Zn_0.98-xTM_xF_0.02O薄膜的磁学性质进行了讨论.     

纳米ZnO薄膜可见发射机制研究

利用溶胶－凝胶法 （Sol-Gel）制备了纳米ZnO薄膜,获得了高强的近紫外发射室温下测量了样品的光致发光谱(PL )、吸收谱(ABS)、X射线衍射谱(XRD).X射线衍射(XRD)的结果表明：纳米ZnO薄膜呈多晶态,具有六角纤锌矿结构和良好的C轴取向;发现随退火温度升高,（002）衍射峰强度显著增强,衍射峰的半高宽（FWHM）减小、纳米颗粒的粒径增大.由吸收谱(ABS)给出了样品室温下带隙宽度为3.30 eV.在PL谱中观察到二个荧光发射带,一个是中心波长位于392 nm附近强而尖的紫带,另一个是519 nm附近弱而宽的绿带研究了不同退火温度样品的光致发光峰值强度的变化关系,发现随退火温度升高,紫带峰值强度增强、绿带峰值强度减弱,均近似呈线性变化.证实了纳米ZnO薄膜绿光发射主要来自氧空位(Vo)形成的浅施主能级与锌空位(VZn)形成的浅受主能级之间的复合,或氧空位(Vo)形成的深施主能级上的电子至价带顶的跃迁;紫带来自于导带中的电子与价带中的空位形成的激子复合.     

ZnO薄膜受激发射特性的研究

氧化锌薄膜因其大的激子结合能和强的光发射、激光阈值低和能在高温下工作等优点而成为制备短波长激光、发光二极管等光电子器件的有希望材料。采用激光分子束外延 (L MBE)方法制备了ZnO薄膜。在室温下 ,测量了样品的吸收光谱 ,以及不同光泵浦强度下的发射光谱。从光谱图中可以看出该材料有很好的质量。研究了ZnO薄膜的受激发射特性及机理 ;测量了发射光强与泵浦光强之间的关系 ;比较了较高激发密度下的受激发射、自发发射和激光脉冲的时间特性 ,这些都证实了该发射是受激发射。     

退火温度对Cu:ZnO薄膜绿光发射的影响

利用溶胶-凝胶法在Si衬底上制备了不同退火温度的Cu:ZnO薄膜.利用X射线衍射(XRD)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、扫描电子显微镜和光致发光谱研究了样品的晶格结构、表面形貌、成分及其发光特性.结果表明:所有样品均具有高度的c轴择优取向,随着退火温度的升高,样品的结晶质量变好,样品的表面都被晶粒覆盖,强而稳定的绿光发射被观察到.绿光强度随退火温度的升高先增加后减小,发光中心位置不随退火温度的变化而改变,这样的绿光发射强而稳定.XRD和XPS结果表明,随退火温度的升高Cu2+还原为Cu+,导致Cu:ZnO薄膜形成的缺陷是VZn,所以绿光发射是由VZn引起的.Cu2+还原为Cu+时,Cu:ZnO薄膜中VZn浓度增加,使绿光发射强度增大.当退火温度超过800?C时,Cu2+的还原能力变差,绿光发射强度减弱.     

The effect of heat treatment on the physical properties of sol-gel derived ZnO thin films

Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films were deposited on microscope glass substrates by sol-gel spin coating method. Zinc acetate (ZnAc) dehydrate was used as the starting salt material source. A homogeneous and stable solution was prepared by dissolving ZnAc in the solution of monoethanolamine (MEA). ZnO thin films were obtained after preheating the spin coated thin films at 250 °C for 5 min after each coating. The films, after the deposition of the eighth layer, were annealed in air at temperatures of 300 °C, 400 °C and 500 °C for 1 h. The effect of thermal annealing in air on the physical properties of the sol-gel derived ZnO thin films are studied. The powder and its thin film were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD) method. XRD analysis revealed that the annealed ZnO thin films consist of single phase ZnO with wurtzite structure (JCPDS 36-1451) and show the c-axis grain orientation. Increasing annealing temperature increased the c-axis orientation and the crystallite size of the film. The annealed films are highly transparent with average transmission exceeding 80% in the visible range (400-700 nm). The measured optical band gap values of the ZnO thin films were between 3.26 eV and 3.28 eV, which were in the range of band gap values of intrinsic ZnO (3.2-3.3 eV). SEM analysis of annealed thin films has shown a completely different surface morphology behavior.     

Effect of excimer laser annealing on the properties of ZnO thin film prepared by sol-gel method

Pristine ZnO thin films have been deposited with zinc acetate [Zn(CH₃COO)₂], mono-ethanolamine (stabilizer), and isopropanol solutions by sol-gel method. After deposition, pristine ZnO thin films have been irradiated by excimer laser (λ = 248, KrF) source with energy density of 50 mJ/cm² for 30 sec. The effect of excimer laser annealing on the optical and structural properties of ZnO thin films are investigated by photoluminescence and field emission scanning electron microscope. As-grown ZnO thin films show a huge peak of visible region and a wide full width at half maximum (FWHM) of UV region due to low quality with amorphous ZnO thin films. After KrF excimer laser annealing, ZnO thin films show intense near-band-edge (NBE) emission and weak deep-level emission. The optically improved pristine ZnO thin films have demonstrated that excimer laser annealing is novel treatment process at room temperature.     

Controlled visible photoluminescence of ZnO thin films prepared by RF magnetron sputtering

ZnO thin films were prepared by RF magnetron sputtering. The photoluminescence dependence on the growth ambient and annealing temperatures and the atmosphere has been studied. Visible photoluminescence with blue, green, orange, and red emission bands has been demonstrated by controlling the preparation conditions. Complete suppression of the visible emission bands was also realized by annealing the O₂-ambient-grown samples in N₂ atmosphere at higher temperatures, which indicated the preparation of ZnO thin films with high optical quality.     

Na-Mg共掺杂ZnO薄膜的结构和光学性质

利用溶胶-凝胶法,在普通载玻片上使用旋转涂膜技术制备了具有c轴择优取向生长的Na-Mg共掺杂的ZnO薄膜。用XRD、SEM、光致发光(PL)及透射光谱对薄膜样品进行了表征。结果表明:Na-Mg共掺杂有利于ZnO薄膜的c轴择优取向生长,并且随着Na+掺杂浓度的增加,晶粒尺寸先增大后减小;通过比较不同掺杂浓度ZnO薄膜的PL谱,推测发光峰值位于380nm的紫外发射与ZnO的自由激子复合有关;发现掺入Mg的确能使ZnO禁带宽度增大,掺杂组分为Na0.04Mg0.2Zn0.76O时,其PL谱只有一个很强的紫光发射峰,其近带边紫外光发射强度较未掺杂的ZnO增强了近10倍,极大地提高了薄膜紫外发光性能;并且随Na+浓度增加薄膜透光性减弱。     

Cesium doped and undoped ZnO nanocrystalline thin films: a comparative study of structural and micro‐Raman investigation of optical phonons

Undoped and cesium‐doped zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films have been deposited on sapphire substrate (0001) using the sol–gel method. Films were preheated at 300 °C for 10 min and annealed at 600 and 800 °C for 1 h. The grown thin films were confirmed to be of wurtzite structure using X‐ray diffraction. Surface morphology of the films was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy. The photoluminescence (PL) spectra of ZnO showed a strong ultraviolet (UV) emission band located at 3.263 eV and a very weak visible emission associated with deep‐level defects. Cesium incorporation induced a blue shift of the optical band gap and quenching of the near‐band‐edge PL for nanocrystalline thin film at room temperatures because of the band‐filling effect of free carriers. A shift of about 10–15 cm⁻¹ is observed for the first‐order longitudinal‐optical (LO) phonon Raman peak of the nanocrystals when compared to the LO phonon peak of bulk ZnO. The UV resonant Raman excitation at RT shows multiphonon LO modes up to fifth order. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

纳米ZnO薄膜的激子光致发光特性

报道了纳米ZnO薄膜激子光致发光(PL)与温度的关系。首先利用低压金属有机化学气相沉积(LPMOCVD)技术生长ZnS薄膜,然后将ZnS薄膜在氧气中于800℃下热氧化2h获得纳米ZnO薄膜。X射线衍射(XRD)结果表明,纳米ZnO薄膜具有六角纤锌矿多晶结构且具有择优(002)取向。室温下观察到一束强的紫外(326eV)光致发光(PL)和很弱的深能级(DL)发射。根据激子峰的半高宽(FWHM)与温度的关系,确定了激子纵向光学声子(LO)的耦合强度(ГLO)。     

The structural and optical properties of ZnO/Si thin films by RTA treatments

ZnO/Si thin films were prepared by rf magnetron sputtering method and some of the samples were treated by rapid thermal annealing (RTA) process at different temperatures ranging from 400 to 800 °C. The effects of RTA treatment on the structural properties were studied by using X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy while optical properties were studied by the photoluminescence measurements. It is observed that the ZnO film annealed at 600 °C reveals the strongest UV emission intensity and narrowest full width at half maximum among the temperature ranges studied. The enhanced UV emission from the film annealed at 600 °C is attributed to the improved crystalline quality of ZnO film due to the effective relaxation of residual compressive stress and achieving maximum grain size.     

Al掺杂原子分数及退火温度对ZnO薄膜光学特性的影响

 采用溶胶凝胶法在（0001）Al₂O₃衬底上制备了不同掺杂原子分数的ZnO:Al薄膜，在Ar气氛中进行了600～950 ℃不同温度的退火处理，研究了掺杂原子分数和退火温度对薄膜光致发光、光吸收和透射的影响。结果显示，薄膜的紫外峰强度随掺杂原子分数和退火温度的提高而增强，与缺陷相关的绿光强度却随着掺杂原子分数和退火温度的提高而降低；薄膜光学带隙随掺杂原子分数的提高从3.21 eV增大到3.25 eV；光吸收在可见光区随着退火温度的升高而增大，在紫外区却随着退火温度的升高而减小，透射与吸收的变化规律相反；薄膜吸收边随退火温度的升高出现轻微的红移。