Enhanced photoelectrochemical and optical performance of ZnO films tuned by Cr doping

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Materials science & processing, 2017-04, Vol.123 (4), p.1-7, Article 243
• Main Authors: Salem, M., Akir, S., Massoudi, I., Litaiem, Y., Gaidi, M., Khirouni, K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied physics; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chromium; Condensed Matter Physics; Crystallites; Doping; Hexagonal phase; Machines; Manufacturing; Materials science; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Optical measurement; Optical properties; Photoluminescence; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Processes; Raman spectroscopy; Spin coating; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; Wurtzite; X-ray diffraction; Zinc oxide; Zinc oxides
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-017-0880-y

In this paper, pure and Cr-doped nanostructured Zinc oxide thin films were synthesized by simple and low cost co-precipitation and spin-coating method with Cr concentration varying between 0.5 and 5 at.%. Crystalline structure of the prepared films was investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Raman spectroscopy techniques. XRD analysis indicated that the films were indexed as the hexagonal phase of wurtzite-type structure and demonstrated a decrease in the crystallite size with increasing Cr doping content. Cr doping revealed a significant effect on the optical measurements such as transmission and photoluminescence properties. The optical measurements indicated that Cr doping decreases the optical band gap and it has been shifted from 3.41 eV for pure ZnO film to 3.31 eV for 5 at.% Cr-doped one. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensing characteristics of Cr-doped ZnO layers were investigated. Amongst all photo-anodes with different Cr dopant concentration, the 2 at.% Cr incorporated ZnO films exhibited fast response and higher photoconduction sensitivity.