Structural and optical characterization of (Sn/Li) co-doped ZnO thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis technique

Abstract

(Sn/Li) co-doped ZnO (LTZO) thin films have been deposited by spray pyrolysis technique and their structural, morphological and optical properties have been investigated. The films were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), field-emission scanning electron micrograph (FESEM), (UV–Vis) spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. XRD results revealed that all thin films (LTZO) are polycrystalline with a hexagonal wurtzite structure, moreover when the Li reach (5 at.%) content, the surface thin films of (LTZO5) become covered with bigger and clear nano-sized crystallites and the average value of grain size is 147 nm with mainly hexagonal grains. The (UV–Vis) spectroscopy showed high transmittance in the visible region, which varied between 84% and 93% and the doping of 5 at.% for all the films of Li content thin films (LTZO5) red shifted. The doping ZnO with lithium and tin were eliminates the deep-level emission in orange/red bands (around to 600 nm).