Optical properties of hydrothermally deposited Ni and Co doped nanostructured ZnO thin films as scintillating coatings for beta-particles detection

• Published in: Journal of luminescence 2022-07, Vol.247, p.118860, Article 118860
• Main Authors: Chubenko, Eugene, Alhamd, Mohsin Wahioh, Bondarenko, Vitaly
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cathodoluminescence; Hydrothermal deposition; Photoluminescence; Raman spectroscopy; X-ray diffractometry; Zinc oxide
• ISSN: 0022-2313; 1872-7883
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jlumin.2022.118860

The optical properties of ZnO films doped with the Ni and Co transition metals that were hydrothermally deposited on a silicon substrate are discussed. The SEM, EDX, XRD and Raman spectroscopy studies showed that the films deposited have a compact crystalline structure and can be considered as nanostructured polycrystalline ZnO films doped with Ni and Co and designated as ZnO:Ni and ZnO:Co, respectively. Under optical and electronic excitation, the films demonstrated both near-band-edge ultraviolet and visible range luminescence due to crystal lattice defects. The highest intensity of the ultraviolet luminescence with a fast decay was achieved for the ZnO:Ni and ZnO:Co samples deposited in the 0.05 M solutions of Ni or Co nitrate salts. Wide luminescence spectra make the films obtained promising as luminophore or scintillating coatings for the beta-particles detection including structures integrated with silicon circuits, for example, solid state silicon-based radiation counters. •Ni and Co doped ZnO films were synthesised by hydrothermal deposition in one step.•Obtained doped ZnO films exhibit bright luminescence in UV and visible range.•UV luminescence band blue shifts with increase of transitional metal concentration.•Additional luminescence band appears at certain concentration of Ni and Co in the films.•Observed cathodoluminescence allows to use obtained films for beta-particle detection.