Optoelectronic Properties of Nanostructured ZnO Thin Films Prepared on Glass and Transparent Flexible Clay Substrates by Hydrothermal Method

Abstract

In the present work, transparent flexible polymer-doped clay (P-clay) substrates were successfully prepared for flexible hybrid organic–inorganic light emitting diode (HyLED) applications. The thermogravimetric–differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA) curves showed that the thermal resistance of P-clay film was higher than that of plastic substrates. Then indium doped tin oxide (ITO) thin films were prepared on newly fabricated P-clay substrates by ion-beam sputter deposition (IBSD) method. The as-prepared ITO/P-clay samples were annealed at 220 °C for 1 h. The optical transparency and electrical conductivity of annealed ITO film on P-clay with smooth surface were better than that of P-clay with rough surface. ZnO seed layers were prepared on annealed ITO/P-clay, ITO/glass, and clay substrates by IBSD method. Surface morphology study showed that the ZnO seed layer coated ITO/P-clay substrate with smooth surface was very suitable for growing vertically aligned ZnO nanorod arrays. The structural study showed that the ZnO nanorod arrays grown by low-temperature solution growth method have good crystallinity and high purity. Optical study showed that the as-prepared ZnO nanorod arrays have excellent optical properties.