Optoelectronical properties of polycrystalline β ‐GaSe thin films

Polycrystalline β ‐GaSe thin films were obtained by the thermal evaporation of GaSe crystals onto glass substrates kept at 300 °C under a pressure of 10^–5 Torr. The transmittance and reflectance of these films was measured in the incident photon energy range of 1.1–3.70 eV. The absorption coefficient spectral analysis in the sharp absorption region revealed a direct allowed transitions band gap of 1.83 eV. The data analysis allowed the identification of the dispersive optical parameters by calculating the refractive index in the wavelength region of 620–1100 nm. In addition, the photocurrent of the samples was studied as function of incident illumination‐intensity and temperature. The photocurrent is found to exhibit sublinear and supralinear character above and below 270 K, respectively. The temperature dependent photocurrent data analysis allowed the calculation of photocurrent activation energies as 603, 119 and 45 meV being dominant in the temperature regions of 250–300 K, 180–240 K and 80‐160 K, respectively. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Structural,compositional and optical properties of gallium selenide thin films doped with cadmium

Polycrystalline cadmium doped gallium selenide thin films were obtained by the thermal co‐evaporation of GaSe crystals and Cd grains onto glass substrates. The structural, compositional and optical properties of these films have been investigated by means of X‐ray diffraction, energy dispersive X‐ray analysis and UV‐visible spectroscopy techniques, respectively. Particularly, the elemental analysis, the crystalline nature, the energy band gap, the refractive index, the dispersion energy and static dielectric constant have been identified. The absorption coefficient spectral analysis in the sharp absorption region revealed a direct forbidden energy band gap of 1.22 eV. The cadmium doping has caused a significant decrease in the values of the energy band gap and in all the dispersive optical parameters, as well. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Optical properties of thermally evaporated CdS thin films

CdS thin films of varying thicknesses were deposited on cleaned glass substrates at room temperature by thermal evaporation technique in a vacuum of about 2 x 10^‐5 torr. UV‐VIS spectra of the films were studied using the optical transmittance measurements which were taken in the spectral region from 300 nm to 1100 nm. The absorbance and reflectance spectra of the films in the UV‐VIS region were also studied. Optical constants such as optical band gap, extinction coefficient, refractive index, optical conductivity and complex dielectric constant were evaluated from these spectra. All the films were found to exhibit high transmittance (∼ 60 ‐ 93 %), low absorbance and low reflectance in the visible/near infrared region from ∼ 500 nm to 1100 nm. The optical band gap energy was found to be in the range 2.28 – 2.53 eV. All the films annealed at 300°C for 4 hours in vacuum (∼ 10^‐2 torr) showed a decrease in the optical transmittance with its absorption edge shifted towards the longer wavelength, leading to the result that the optical band gap decreases on annealing the films. Also, on annealing crystallinity of the films improves, resulting in decrease in the optical transmittance. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Influence of thermoannealing on crystallinity and optical properties of Sb2S3 thin films

Sb₂S₃ thin films are obtained by evaporating of Sb₂S₃ powder onto glass substrates maintained at room temperature under pressure of 2×10^‐5 torr. The composition of the thin films was determined by energy dispersive analysis of X‐ray (EDAX). The effect of thermal annealing in vacuum on the structural properties was studied using X‐ray diffraction (XRD) technique and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The as‐deposition films were amorphous, while the annealed films have an orthorhombic polycrystalline structure. The optical constants of as‐deposited and annealed Sb₂S₃ thin films were obtained from the analysis of the experimental recorded transmission spectral data over the wavelength range 400‐1400 nm. The transmittance analysis allowed the determination of refractive index as function of wavelength. It was found that the refractive dispersion data obeyed the single oscillator model, from which the dispersion parameters (oscillator energy, E₀, dispersion energy, E_d) were determined. The static refractive index n(0), static dielectric constant, ε_∞, and optical band gap energy, E_g, were also calculated using the values of dispersion parameters. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Characterization of As-Se-Tl films near infrared region

?Amorphous chalcogenide of As-Se-Tl glassy alloys was prepared by melt quenching technique. Films were deposited on a transparent glass substrate using thermal evaporation technique. The optical characterization of thin As-Se-Tl films was studied by the analysis of transmission spectra, measured at normal incidence, in the spectral range 200-3000. The envelope method, proposed by Swanepoel, is a commonly used method for studying optical properties of films with uniform and non uniform thickness. Thickness values as well as optical constants, refractive index, Dispersion energy, Urbach and static refractive index or infinite wave length dielectric constant, are calculated using Wemple-DiDomenico model near infrared region using the envelopes of the transmittance spectrum of the films. The values of optical constants: absorption coefficient, Urbach tail, refractive index etc. have been determined. Urbach tail is estimated using Tauc's extrapolation and is found to increase from 0.69 to 0.91 eV with the Tl addition. This behavior of Urbach tail is interpreted in terms of Tauc's Model. Other optical constants are interpreted in terms of Wemple-DiDomenico model, chemical bond approach, electro-negativity difference of the atoms involved and cohesive energy of the system.     

Temperature‐tuned band gap energy and oscillator parameters of Tl2InGaSe4 semiconducting layered single crystals

The optical properties of Tl₂InGaSe₄ layered single crystals have been studied through the transmission and reflection measurements in the wavelength range of 500‐1100 nm. The analysis of room temperature absorption data revealed the presence of both optical indirect and direct transitions with band gap energies of 1.86 and 2.05 eV, respectively. Transmission measurements carried out in the temperature range of 10‐300 K revealed that the rate of change of the indirect band gap with temperature is γ = – 4.4 × 10^‐4 eV/K. The absolute zero value of the band gap energy was obtained as E_gi(0) = 1.95 eV. The dispersion of the refractive index is discussed in terms of the single oscillator model. The refractive index dispersion parameters: oscillator wavelength and strength were found to be 2.53 × 10^–7 m and 9.64 × 10¹³ m^–2, respectively. (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Spray deposition and characterization of undoped and In‐doped tin disulphide thin films

Undoped and Indium doped tin disulphide (SnS₂) thin films had been deposited onto glass substrates at T_s = 300 °C using spray pyrolysis technique under atmospheric pressure with stannous chloride, indium chloride and thiourea as precursors. The structural, optical and electrical properties of the deposited films were characterized. The XRD pattern revealed that the undoped and doped films had preferred orientation along (002) plane with hexagonal structure. FESEM micrographs had shown that morphologies of the films changed with indium doping. Optical constant such as refractive index (n), extinction coefficient (k), real and imaginary parts of dielectric constants were evaluated from transmittance and reflectance spectra in UV‐Visible spectroscopy. The optical absorption data were used to determine the band gap energy and it was found to be 2.75 eV for undoped and 2.50 eV for indium doped films respectively. The room temperature dark resistivity was found to be 4.545 × 10³ Ω‐cm and 5.406 × 10³ Ω‐cm for undoped and In‐doped films respectively.     

热蒸发制备CdSe薄膜及其光电特性研究

采用真空热蒸发法技术制备CdSe薄膜,通过XRD、SEM、Hall效应和分光光度计测试了薄膜的结构、表面形貌、I-V特性和光学透过率。结果表明:CdSe薄膜(100)晶面的面间距为0.369 nm,晶粒大小约为10.2 nm,薄膜表面晶粒分布较为均匀;CdSe薄膜与锡和银的肖特基势垒高度分别为0.76 V和0.69 V;CdSe薄膜的光透过率在远红外区较高,且呈上升趋势;折射率随波长增加按指数规律减小;根据Tauc关系和Urbach规则,获得能量带隙为1.79 eV和Urbach能量为0.217 eV。     

Investigation of optical parameters of Ag-In-Se thin films deposited by e-beam technique

The optical properties of the Ag-In-Se (AIS) thin films deposited by e-beam technique were investigated by means of the optical transmittance measurements. The optical absorption coefficients of the films were found to vary from 10³ to 10⁵ cm⁻¹ over the wavelength range of 300-1100 nm. The real and imaginary parts of the refractive index and dielectric constant for the as-grown and annealed films in between 100 and 400 °C were evaluated by means of both envelope method (EM) and continuous wavelet transform (CWT) method and the results were in quite good agreement with each other. The refractive index, n, dispersion over the measured wavelength range was explained by applying single-oscillator model (SOM) and the related parameters were calculated. The optical absorption process for the AIS thin films was characterized by three direct transitions from three closely spaced valence bands to a single conduction band due to the splitting of the valence band under the influence of the tetragonal crystalline field and spin-orbit interaction. The direct optical band gap energy decreases as the annealing temperature increases because of the increase in the width of band tail states near valence-band edge caused by the Se segregation. The two distinct parameters of the quasicubic model; crystal-field splitting, Δ_CF, and spin-orbit splitting, Δ_SO, were calculated for as-grown and annealed AIS thin films.     

Determination of optical parameters of Ga0.75In0.25Se layered crystals

The optical properties of the Ga_0.75In_0.25Se crystals have been investigated by means of transmission and reflection measurements in the wavelength range of 380–1100 nm. The analysis of the results performed at room temperature revealed the presence of optical indirect transtions with band gap energy of 1.89 eV. The variation of the band gap energy as a function of temperature was also studied in the temperature range of 10–300 K. The rate of change of band gap energy (γ = –6.2 × 10^–4 eV/K) and absolute zero value of the band gap (E_gi(0) = 2.01 eV) were reported. The wavelength dependence of the refractive index was analyzed using Wemple and DiDomenico, Sellmeier and Cauchy models to find the oscillator energy, dispersion energy, oscillator strength and zero‐frequency refractive index values. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Specific features of the optical spectra in Tl2In2S3Se layered single crystals

The optical properties of Tl₂In₂S₃Se layered single crystals have been studied by means of transmission and reflection measurements in the wavelength range of 450‐1100 nm. The analysis of the absorption data revealed the presence of both optical indirect and direct transitions with energy band gaps of 2.16 and 2.42 eV, respectively. The observed coexistence of indirect and direct energy band gaps is related to the anisotropy of the Tl‐containing layered crystals. The dispersion of the refractive index is discussed in terms of the Wemple‐DiDomenico single‐effective‐oscillator model. The refractive index dispersion parameters: oscillator energy, dispersion energy, oscillator strength and zero‐frequency refractive index were found to be 4.78 eV, 43.58 eV, 13.18 × 10¹³ m^–2 and 3.18, respectively. From X‐ray powder diffraction study, the parameters of monoclinic unit cell were determined. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Optical constants of DC magnetron sputtered titanium dioxide thin films measured by spectroscopic ellipsometry

Optical constants of DC magnetron sputtered TiO₂ thin film have been determined by Spectroscopic Ellipsometry in the photon energy range 1.2 to 5.5 eV at room temperature. The measured dielectric‐function spectra reveal distinct structures at energies of the E1, E1 + Δ1 and E2 critical points are due to interband transitions. The root mean square roughness of the magnetron sputtered TiO₂ thin films evaluated by ex‐situ atomic force microscopy is 5.8 nm. The Dielectric constant values were found to be substantially lower than those for the bulk TiO₂. The dielectric related Optical constants, such as the refractive index, extinction coefficient, absorption coefficient and normal incidence of reflectivity determined from the spectroscopic ellipsometry data are presented and analyzed. The optical constants of the films were also determined using the optical transmittance measurements and the results were discussed. (© 2003 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Optical properties of pure and metal ions doped ammonium sulfate single crystals

A study of the optical properties of pure‐and some metal ions doped ammonium sulfate crystals (AS) were made. Optical constants of AS crystals were calculated at room temperature. The optical absorption coefficient (α ) was analyzed and interpreted to be in the allowed direct transition. The introduction of Rb⁺ or Cs⁺ ions gives rise to an intense charge transfer band with a maximum at λ= 310 nm in the optical spectrum. In case of Cr³⁺ ‐doping, the absorption shows a shoulder just before the onset band to band transition. The values of the allowed direct energy gap E_g for undoped and doped crystals were calculated. It was found that E_g values were decreased with metal ions doping. The refractive index, the extinction coefficient and both the real and imaginary parts of the dielectric permittivity were calculated as a function of photon energy. The validity of Cauchy‐Sellimeier equation was checked in the wavelength range 4.9 ‐ 5.6 eV and its parameters were calculated. Applying the Single‐Effective‐Oscillator model, the moments of ε (E ) could be estimated. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Electrical and optical properties of Sn10Sb20−xBixSe70 (0 x 8) glassy films

Chalcogenide glasses are interesting materials due to their infrared transmitting properties and photo-induced effects exhibited by them. Thin films of the glasses Sn₁₀Sb_20−xBi_xSe₇₀ (0 x 8) prepared by melt quenching technique were evaporated in a vacuum better than 10⁻⁵ mbar. Optical transmission spectra of all the deposited films were obtained in a range 400–2500 nm. The optical band gap and the absorption coefficient were calculated from the transmission data and refractive index was calculated using the swanepoel method. The optical band gap initially increases with increase in Bi content (for x = 2) and then decreases sharply for higher Bi concentrations. The refractive index as well as absorption coefficient decrease with increase in wavelength. The dark activation energy initially increases with increase in Bi content and then decreases with further addition.     

Influence of density of states on optical properties of GaSe thin film

A systematic investigation on the effect of substrate temperature on the structure, optical absorption and density of states of vacuum evaporated gallium monoselenide (GaSe) thin films is reported. The X‐ray diffraction analysis shows an occurrence of amorphous to polycrystalline transformation in the films deposited at higher‐temperature substrates (573K). The compositional analysis is made with Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES). The thickness of the film (175nm) is measured by a multiple beam interferometery. Optical characteristics of the GaSe sample have been analyzed using spectrophotometer in the photon energy range of 1.0 ‐ 4 eV. The absorption mechanism has been recognized and the allowed indirect as well as forbidden direct transitions have been found. As‐deposited films show two indirect and allowed transitions due to spin‐orbit splitting of the valence band, as reported here for the first time. Low field conduction have enabled us to determine the density of states in amorphous and poly‐GaSe films. The amorphous and polycrystalline GaSe thin films have localized states density values of N (E_F) = 1.686 × 10¹⁷ cm^‐3 eV^‐1 and 1.257 × 10¹⁵ cm^‐3 eV^‐1 respectively. The experimental results are interpreted in terms of variations in the density of localized states due to progressive decrease of the unsaturated bonds during deposition. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Nd掺杂Mg2Si电子结构和光学性质的第一性原理研究

采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理赝势平面波方法,探究了未掺杂Mg₂Si以及Nd掺杂Mg₂Si的能带结构、态密度和光学性质。计算结果表明: Nd掺杂Mg₂Si后,Mg₂Si禁带宽度从0.290 eV降低到0 eV,导电性能提升;未掺杂的Mg₂Si,当光子能量大于0.9 eV时,才开始慢慢具备吸收能力,掺杂Nd之后的Mg₂Si对能量为0.2 eV的光子就开始吸收,大大改善了Mg₂Si对红外光电子的吸收。掺杂后的光吸收系数和反射率都变小,表明掺杂后的Mg₂Si对光的穿透率增大。计算结果为Mg₂Si材料在光电器件方面的应用提供了理论依据。     

Substrate temperature effect on the optical properties of amorphous Sb2S3 thin films

Sb₂S₃ amorphous thin films were prepared by thermal evaporation of corresponding powder on thoroughly cleaned glass substrates held at temperature in the range 300‐473 K. X‐ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy have been used to order to identify the structure and morphology of surface thin films. The optical constants of the deposition films were obtained from the analysis of the experimental recorded transmission data over the wavelength range 400‐1400 nm. An analysis of the absorption coefficient values revealed an optical indirect transition with the estimation of the corresponding band gap values. It was found that the optical band gap energy decrease with substrate temperature from 1.67 eV at 300 K to 1.48 eV at 473K. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Annealing temperatures induced optical constant variations of methyl violet 2B thin films manufactured by the spin coating technique

Spin coating technique has been successfully applied to deposit uniform methyl violet 2B (MV2B) thin films. X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared techniques were used to study the crystal and molecular structure of MV2B. The optical properties of the films have been studied by spectrophotometer measurements of transmittance and reflectance at normal incidence of light in the spectral range of 200–2500 nm. The absorption and refractive indices are independent of the film thickness. The absorption parameters such as molar extinction coefficient, oscillator strength and electric dipole strength have been reported before and after annealing. The type of electronic transition is indirect allowed transition with onset energy gap of 1.82 eV and optical energy gap of 3.65 eV. Annealing temperatures reduce structure disorder, remove trap level, increase values of the onset and optical energy gaps and decrease refractive index. The single oscillator model has been applied for calculating the dispersion parameters. The oscillator energy, the dispersion energy, the high frequency dielectric constant, the lattice dielectric constant and the ratio of free charge carriers' concentration to its effective mass were evaluated before and after annealing. The dielectric properties of the films were also determined.     

(La,Y)掺杂AlN的电子结构和光学性质的第一性原理研究

采用基于密度泛函理论的平面波超软赝势方法对纯AlN、(La,Y)单掺杂以及La-Y共掺杂AlN 超胞进行几何结构优化,计算了稀土元素(La,Y)掺杂前后体系的能带结构、态密度和光学性质。结果表明:未掺杂的AlN是直接带隙半导体,带隙值为E_g=4.237 eV,在费米能级附近,态密度主要由Al-3p、N-2s电子轨道贡献电子,光吸收概率大,能量损失较大;掺杂后使得能带结构性质改变,带隙值降低,能带曲线变密集,总态密度整体下移;在光学性质中,稀土元素掺杂后均提高了静态介电常数、光吸收性能,增强了折射率和反射率,减小了电子吸收光子概率及能量损失;其中La-Y共掺体系变化得较为明显。     

Optical characterization of thermally evaporated thin CdO films

Cadmium Oxide films have been prepared by vacuum evaporation method on a glass substrate at room temperature. Detailed structural, optical, and electrical properties of the films are presented at different annealing temperatures. The crystal structure of the samples was studied by X‐ ray diffraction. The spectral absorption coefficient of the CdO film at the fundamental absorption region (450‐650nm) was determined using the spectral data of transmittance. The direct and indirect band gap energies were determined and found to be 2.33 eV and 1.95 eV respectively. The third order optical nonlinearities χ(3) of CdO films has been measured used the z‐can technique. The real and imaginary parts of χ(3) have been measured at 514 nm and found to be 1.7x10^‐3 esu and 3.0x10^‐3 esu, respectively. (© 2003 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)