Title: Growth mechanism and optical properties of zinc oxide thin film

Authors: Sanusi Abdullahi; Musa Momoh; Kasim Uthman Isah

Addresses: Department of Physics, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria ' Department of Physics, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, Nigeria ' Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology Minna, Nigeria

Abstract: Zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films were successfully deposited on glass substrate by radio frequency (RF) sputtering technique. One set of the samples was annealed in open air at temperatures of 423 K, 573 K and 723 K for one hour while another set of samples was annealed under nitrogen atmosphere for the same duration of time and temperature as the other set. A growth mechanism for thin film growth by RF sputtering has been presented. The films were also characterised to assess their optical properties. The ZnO thin films showed good transmittance, low reflectance and good absorbance in the visible region. The energy band gap (Eg) obtained is in the range of (3.15-3.28 eV) which is good for window layer of a solar cell. Other optical constants evaluated include refractive index and the extinction coefficient.

Keywords: RF sputtering; ZnO thin films; annealing; growth mechanisms; renewable energy; optical properties; zinc oxide; transmittance; reflectance; absorbance; energy band gap; solar cells; refractive index; extinction coefficient.

DOI: 10.1504/IJRET.2014.060358

International Journal of Renewable Energy Technology, 2014 Vol.5 No.2, pp.94 - 106

Published online: 24 May 2014 *

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