Structural and optical properties of ZnO: Al thin films produced by magnetron sputtering with different oxygen flow: an experimental and Ab initio study

This work addresses, in an experimental and theoretical way, the influence of different oxygen pressure values on the physical and electronic properties of thin conductive and transparent oxide films of Al-doped ZnO, with different thicknesses. A series of characterization techniques, which include...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Feitor, Michelle Cerqueira, Queiroz, José César Augusto de, Azevedo Filho, João Batista de, Libório, Maxwell Santana, Santos, Edson José da Costa, Souto, Ulisses Borges, Sousa, Rômulo Ribeiro Magalhães de, Costa, Thércio Henrique de Carvalho
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2020
País:Brasil
Institución:Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN)
Repositorio:Repositório Institucional da UFRN
Idioma:francés
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.ufrn.br:123456789/45521
Acceso en línea:https://repositorio.ufrn.br/handle/123456789/45521
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Magnetron Sputtering
Experimental and Ab Initio Study
Optical Properties of ZnO
Descripción
Sumario:This work addresses, in an experimental and theoretical way, the influence of different oxygen pressure values on the physical and electronic properties of thin conductive and transparent oxide films of Al-doped ZnO, with different thicknesses. A series of characterization techniques, which include X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), optical spectrophotometry, and Hall measurements are conducted. All films have a hexagonal wurtzite structure characteristic of ZnO, with preferential orientation along the plane (002) and transmittance values, in the visible range, greater than 80%. The increase in flow oxygen up to 25% provides an increase in the film’s density resulting in a decrease in electrical resistivity from 9.58 103 Ω cm to 8.14 103 Ω cm. The ab initio calculations allow to observe the distortions in the microstructure of the films attributed to the presence of impurities and to obtain the values of the total and formation energies. The values of the Mulliken population and chemical bond length are notoriously influenced by the concentration of oxygen in the atmosphere. The displacement of the valence band (VB) and the Fermi level, together with the decrease in the gap energy, reinforce the influence of oxygen gas on the electronic structure of the films