Characterization of nanocrystalline ZnO thin films prepared by new pyrolysis method

Abstract

To obtain high-quality nanocrystalline transparent ZnO films, a new pyrolysis synthesis method was used. The resulting material was investigated by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy. Structural analysis of the films shows that they are polycrystalline and have a wurtzite structure. The film structure consists of nanocrystallites about 10–20 nm in size, uniformly distributed over the surface of the substrate and over the thickness of the film. The temperature dependence of the resistance of the obtained films was also investigated. The activation energies of conductivity are determined by the donor conductivity levels existing in zinc oxide, and temperature hysteresis is determined by the effect of charging oxygen adsorbed on the surface of zinc oxide.