Open AccessEffect of Concentration on the Optical and Solid State Properties of ZnO Thin Films Deposited by Aqueous Chemical Growth (ACG) Method
Author(s) -
S. L. Mammah,
F. E. Opara,
F. B. Sigalo,
S. C. Ezugwu,
F. I. Ezema
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of modern physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2153-120X
pISSN - 2153-1196
DOI - 10.4236/jmp.2012.39124
Subject(s) - materials science , thin film , absorbance , transmittance , molar absorptivity , band gap , refractive index , analytical chemistry (journal) , dielectric , aqueous solution , absorption (acoustics) , spectroscopy , optics , optoelectronics , nanotechnology , chemistry , composite material , physics , chromatography , quantum mechanics
Thin films of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) having different concentrations were deposited using the Aqueous Chemical Growth (ACG) method. The films were characterized using Rutherford Back Scattering (RBS) spectroscopy for chemical composition and thickness, X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) for crystallographic structure, a UV-VIS spectrophotometer for the analysis of the optical and solid state properties which include spectral absorbance, transmittance, reflectance, refractive index, direct band gap, real and imaginary dielectric constants, absorption and extinction coefficients and a photomicroscope for photomicrographs. The average deposited film thickness was 100 nm. The results indicate that the values of all the optical and solid state properties investigated vary directly with concentration except transmittance which is the reverse. Thus, the optical and solid state properties of ZnO thin film deposited by the Acqueous Chemical Growth method can be tuned by deliberately controlling the concentration of the precursors for various optoelectronic applications including its application as absorber layer in solar cells