Improved electrical, optical, and structural properties of undoped ZnO thin films grown by water‐mist‐assisted spray pyrolysis

Abstract

Undoped ZnO thin films were prepared using the ultrasonic spray pyrolysis deposition technique with zinc acetylacetonate dissolved in N,N‐dimethylformamide as the source materials solution. The addition of water mist in a parallel flux to the spray solution stream was also used during deposition of the films. The addition of water mist improved the electrical characteristics of the ZnO films. Fresh ZnO samples were then thermally annealed in a H2 reducing atmosphere. X‐ray diffraction patterns show mainly the wurzite crystalline ZnO phase in the films. An electrical resistivity (ρ ) of around 2.7 × 10−2 Ω cm was measured at room temperature for the best undoped ZnO film. ρ is approximately one order of magnitude lower than the resistivities found in undoped ZnO films obtained by means of similar non‐vacuum deposition techniques. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Luminescent Properties of (004) Highly Oriented Cubic Zinc Blende ZnO Thin Films

“…As a semiconductor, ZnO thin films have many important applications, principally as sensors and optoelectronic materials [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Another interesting application is related to its use as a transparent conductor [7,8]. Therefore, researching its structural, electrical and optical properties is of wide importance.…”

“…Therefore, researching its structural, electrical and optical properties is of wide importance. For example, Martínez Pérez et al [7] reported the synthesis of good quality ZnO thin films by means of the spray pyrolysis technique. When chemical methods are used for depositing films, such as spray pyrolysis, it is well known that the physical properties of the resultant ZnO thin films depend on the molar concentration of the solvents and the preparation conditions of the source solution [7].…”

“…For example, Martínez Pérez et al [7] reported the synthesis of good quality ZnO thin films by means of the spray pyrolysis technique. When chemical methods are used for depositing films, such as spray pyrolysis, it is well known that the physical properties of the resultant ZnO thin films depend on the molar concentration of the solvents and the preparation conditions of the source solution [7]. Therefore, for the same molar concentrations in the spray pyrolysis technique, if the ambient conditions of the source solution are modified then the physical properties of the deposited thin films should be different.…”

Determination of the barrier height of Pt-Ir Schottky nano-contacts on Al-doped ZnO thin films by conductive Atomic Force Microscopy

“…As was detailed in a previous work [2], an ultrasonic spray pyrolysis deposition system was used. Source solutions of 0.3032 molar concentrations of zinc acetylacetonate and 10% of aluminum acetylacetonate (Sigma Aldrich) dissolved in N, N-dimethylformamide (N,N-DMF) (Mallinckrodt) were prepared.…”

“…Aluminum doped zinc oxide (AZO) thin films have many important applications, principally as sensing and optoelectronic material [1]. Another interesting application is related to its use as transparent conductor [1,2] in solar cell technology. AZO films have some advantages such as higher transmittance even at near infrared wavelengths than ITO [1].…”