Influence of Y doping concentration on the properties of nanostructured MxZn1−xO (M=Y) thin film deposited by nebulizer spray pyrolysis technique

• Published in: The Journal of physics and chemistry of solids 2014-09, Vol.75 (9), p.1033-1040
• Main Authors: Mariappan, R., Ponnuswamy, V., Chandra Bose, A., Suresh, R., Ragavendar, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Electrical impedance analysis; Nebulizer spray pyrolysis; Optical properties; Structural properties
• ISSN: 0022-3697; 1879-2553
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpcs.2014.03.014

Yttrium doped Zinc Oxide (YxZn1−xO) thin films deposited at a substrate temperature 400°C. The effect of substrate temperature on the structural, surface morphology, compositional, optical and electrical properties of YxZn1−xO thin films was studied. X-ray diffraction studies show that all films are polycrystalline in nature with hexagonal crystal structure having highly textured (002) plane parallel to the surface of the substrate. The structural parameters, such as lattice constants (a and c), crystallite size (D), dislocation density (δ), microstrain (σ) and texture coefficient were calculated for different yttrium doping concentrations (x). High resolution scanning electron microscopy measurements reveal that the surface morphology of the films change from platelet like grains to hexagonal structure with grain size increase due to the yttrium doping. Energy dispersive spectroscopy confirms the presence of Y, Zn and O elements in the films prepared. Optical studies showed that all samples have a strong optical transmittance higher than 70% in the visible range. A slight shift of the absorption edge towards the large wavelengths was observed as the Y doping concentration increased. This result shows that the band gap is slightly decreased from 3.10 to 2.05eV with increase of the yttrium doping concentrations (up to 7.5%) and then slightly increased. Room temperature PL measurements were done and the band-to-band emission energies of films were determined and reported. The complex impedance of the 10%Y doped ZnO film shows two distinguished semicircles and the diameter of the arcs got decreased in diameter as the temperature increases from 70 to 175°C. •YxZn1−xO films deposited on glass by nebulizer spray pyrolysis (NSP) method.•NSP method for large area coatings and good results as compared with other methods.•HR-SEM studies reveal the formation of YxZn1−xO films consisting of nano-walls.•YxZn1−xO films ensure their stability and suitability for gas sensors.