Theoretical study of the electronic and optical properties of ZnO/MgO rock salt superlattices

Abstract

An analysis of some electronic and optical properties of rock salt (RS) ZnO/MgO superlattices related to potential applications in optoelectronics and electronics is carried out.In order to find possible light emission mechanisms, the electronic band structure, projected and k-resolved projected density of states and optical parameters such as the refractive index, reflection and absorption coefficients are calculated.We show that the bandgap of the RS ZnO/MgO superlattice is indirect for all considered thicknesses of quantum wells and barriers. Despite the indirect character of the bandgap, other features of the studied superlattice, such as the flat character of the top of the valence band and the bottom of the conduction band, combined with strong electron-phonon coupling and high exciton binding energy, may indicate the possibility of light emission similar to that in hexagonal BN.