Deposition of ZnO thin films on (100) γ-LiAlO_2 substrate

The resurgence in the study of ZnO continues. The now ready availability of good-quality single crystals and films[1,2] and discovery of lasing action in the materials[3] have generated new life in an old material. A direct semi- conductor with a gap energy of 3.3 eV[4], ZnO is in the position of being able to offer a challenge to GaN in the blue laser market[5]. The advantages of ZnO are the high quality of the material and the large exciton bind- ing energy (60 meV). The large exciton bi…