Skip to main content
Log in

Photoluminescence properties of ZnO thin films prepared by DC magnetron sputtering

  • Published:
Journal of Central South University of Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

ZnO thin films were prepared by direct current(DC) reactive magnetron sputtering under different oxygen partial pressures. And then the samples were annealed in vacuum at 450 °C. The effects of the oxygen partial pressures and the treatment of annealing in vacuum on the photoluminescence and the concentration of six intrinsic defects in ZnO thin films such as oxygen vacancy(VO), zinc vacancy(VZn), antisite oxygen(OZn), antisite zinc(ZnO), interstitial oxygen(Oi) and interstitial zinc(Zni) were studied. The results show that a green photoluminescence peak at 520 nm can be observed in all the samples, whose intensity increases with increasing oxygen partial pressure; for the sample annealed in vacuum, the intensity of the green peak increases as well. The green photoluminescence peak observed in ZnO may be attributed to zinc vacancy, which probably originates from transitions between electrons in the conduction band and zinc vacancy levels, or from transitions between electrons in zinc vacancy levels and up valence band.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. TANG Z K, WONG G K L, YU P. Room-temperature ultraviolet laser emission from self-assembled ZnO microcrystallite thin films [J]. Appl Phys Lett, 1998, 72(25): 3270–3272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. LEE S, IM Y H, KIM S H, HAHN Y B. Structural and optical properties of high quality ZnO films on Si grown by atomic layer deposition at low temperatures [J]. Superlattices and Microstructures, 2006, 39(1/4): 24–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. LIM S H, KIM J W, KANG H S, KIM G H, CANG H W, LEE S Y. Characterizations of phosphorus doped ZnO multi-layer thin films to control carrier concentration [J]. Superlattices and Microstructures, 2005, 38(4/6): 377–384.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. BUROVA L I, PETUKHOV D I, ELISEEV A A, LUKASHIN A V, TRETYAKOV Y D. Preparation and properties of ZnO nanoparticles in the mesoporous silica matrix [J]. Superlattices and Microstructures, 2006, 39(1/4): 257–266.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. FAN Xi-mei, LIAN Jian-she, GUO Zuo-xing, JIANG Qing. Surface morphology and photoluminescence properties of ZnO thin films obtained by PLD [J]. Trans Nonferrous Met Soc China, 2005, 15(3): 519–523.

    Google Scholar 

  6. LU Qing-feng, WEI Hong-xiang, HU Zhu-dong. ZnO nanoneedles fabricated by a simple approach and their optical properties [J]. Trans Nonferrous Met Soc China, 2004, 14(5): 973–976.

    Google Scholar 

  7. XU X L, LAU S P, CHEN J S, CHEN G Y, TAY B K. Polycrystalline ZnO thin films on Si(100) deposited by filtered cathodic vacuum arc [J]. Journal of Crystal Growth, 2001, 223(1/2): 201–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. KIM C, PARK A, PRABAKAR K, LEE C. Physical and electronic properties of ZnO:Al/porous silicon [J]. Materials Research Bulletin, 2006, 41(2): 253–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. GAO Hai-yong, ZHUANG Hui-zhao, XUE Chen-shan, DONG Zhi-hua, HE Jian-ting, LIU Yian, WU Yu-xin, TIAN De-heng. Fabrication of GaN films through reactive reconstruction of magnetron sputtered ZnO/Ga2O3 [J]. Journal of Central South University of Technology, 2005, 12(1): 9–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. LI Huo-quan, NING Zhao-yuan, CHENG Shan-hua, JIANG Mei-fu. Photoluminescence centers and shift of ZnO films deposited by RF magnetron sputtering [J]. Acta Physica Sinaca, 2004, 53(3): 867–870. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  11. LIU Xiang, WU Xiao-hua, CAO Hui, CHANG R P H. Growth mechanism and properties of ZnO nanorods synthesized by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition [J]. J Appl Phys, 2004, 95(6): 3141–3147.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. ZU P, TANG Z K, WONG G K L, KAWASAKI M, OHTOMO A, KOINUMA H, SEGAWA Y. Ultraviolet spontaneous and stimulated emissions from ZnO microcrystallite thin films at room temperature [J]. Solid State Commun, 1997, 103(8): 459–463.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. CHO S, MA J, KIM Y, SUN Y, GEORGE K L W, JOHN B K. Photoluminescence and ultraviolet lasing of polycrystalline ZnO thin films prepared by the oxidation of the metallic Zn [J]. Appl Phys Lett, 1999, 75(18): 2761–2763.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. BAGNALL D M, CHEN Y F, SHEN M Y, ZHU Z, GOTO T, YAO T. Room temperature excitonic stimulated emission from zinc oxide epilayers grown by plasma-assisted MBE [J]. Journal of Crystal Growth, 1998, 174(184/185): 605–609.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. KOHAN A F, CEDER G, MORGAN D. First-principles study of native point defect in ZnO [J]. Physical Review B, 2000, 61(22): 15019–15027.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. REYNOLDS D C, LOOK D C, JOGAI B, MORKOÇ H. Similarities in the band edge and deep-centre photoluminescence mechanisms of ZnO and GaN [J]. Solid State Commun, 1997, 101(9): 643–646.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. LIU M, KITAI A H, MASCHER P. Point defects and luminescence centers in zinc oxide and zinc oxide doped with manganese [J]. Journal of Luminescence, 1992, 54(1): 35–42.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. LÜ Jian-guo, YE Zhi-zhen, HUANG Jing-yun, ZHAO Bing-hui, WANG Lei. Influence of postdeposotion annealing on crystallinity of zinc oxide films [J]. Chinese Journal of Semiconductors, 2003, 24(7): 729–736. (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  19. BYLANDER E G. Surface effects on the low-energy cathodoluminescence of zinc oxide [J]. J Appl Phys, 1978, 49(3): 1188–1195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. XU Peng-shou, SUN Yu-ming, SHI Chao-shu. Native point defect states in ZnO [J]. Chin Phys Lett, 2001, 18(9): 1252–1253.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bing-chu Yang  (杨兵初).

Additional information

Foundation item: Project(60571043) supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yang, Bc., Liu, Xy., Gao, F. et al. Photoluminescence properties of ZnO thin films prepared by DC magnetron sputtering. J. Cent. South Univ. Technol. 15, 449–453 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-008-0084-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-008-0084-x

Key words

Navigation