Structure, composition and optical properties of ZnO:Ga films electrodeposited on flexible substrates

• Published in: Applied physics. A, Materials science & processing Materials science & processing, 2009-12, Vol.97 (4), p.759-764
• Main Authors: Rakhshani, A. E., Bumajdad, A., Kokaj, J., Thomas, S.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Annealing; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Condensed Matter Physics; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Gallium; Ii-vi semiconductors; Machines; Manufacturing; Materials science; Nanotechnology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Optical properties; Optical properties and condensed-matter spectroscopy and other interactions of matter with particles and radiation; Optical properties of specific thin films; Photoluminescence; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Processes; Surfaces and Interfaces; Thin Films; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; Zinc; Zinc oxide
• ISSN: 0947-8396; 1432-0630
• DOI: 10.1007/s00339-009-5362-4

Thin films of ZnO:Ga are electrodeposited on stainless steel from zinc chloride solutions containing gallium with a Ga/Zn molar ratio in the range 1–10%. The surface morphology, structure, composition, and the optical properties of these films are studied using SEM, XRD, EDX, XPS, photoluminescence and transmittance spectroscopy. Results reveal that films with embedded platelets can be grown with a Ga/Zn molar ratio up to 60%. In as-grown films, Ga is present in the form of oxide, hydroxide or hydroxychloride compounds which decompose by annealing. Films annealed at 400°C are composed only from ZnO and Ga 2 O 3 phases. The incorporation of Ga in ZnO films does not make a considerable change in the optical transmittance and the photoluminescence properties of the films.