Title: Preparation, characterisation and photocurrent study of sol-gel-derived Al, Mg-doped ZnO transparent thin films

Authors: K. Chongsri; W. Techitdheera; W. Pecharapa

Addresses: Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Applied Physics, Rajabhat Rajanagarindra University, Chachoengsao 24000, Thailand ' School of Applied Physics, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand ' College of Nanotechnology, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Ladkrabang, Bangkok 10520, Thailand; ThEP Center, CHE, 328 Siayuthtaya Rd., Bangkok 10400, Thailand

Abstract: In this work, sol-gel spin-coating was employed to prepare ZnO, Al-doped ZnO (AZO) and Mg-doped ZnO (MZO) thin films onto glass substrates. Structural properties and surface morphologies of as-prepared films were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) while their optical properties were scrutinised from their transmission spectra measured by UV-VIS spectrophotometer. Their optical responses and sensitivity of the films were investigated by photocurrent spectroscopy. The XRD and SEM results show that the crystallinity and physical structure of as-prepared films are highly affected by Al and Mg doping. UV-VIS spectrophotometer results suggest that Mg and Al dopants could not only improve their optical transparency but also significantly cause the blue-shift in optical band gap of ZnO films. In addition, the enhancement in photosensitivity of ZnO films can be attained by specific Al and Mg doping content.

Keywords: ZnO thin films; zinc oxide; aluminium doping; magnesium doping; sol-gel route; photocurrent; transparent thin films; spin coating; glass substrates; structural properties; surface morphologies; optical transparency; optical band gap; photosensitivity; nanoelectronics; nanotechnology.

DOI: 10.1504/IJNT.2014.059828

International Journal of Nanotechnology, 2014 Vol.11 No.1/2/3/4, pp.263 - 273

Published online: 15 Nov 2014 *

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