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Structural, Surface Wettability, Optical, Urbach Tail, and Electrical Properties of Spray Pyrolyzed ZnO Thin Films: Role of Air Flow Rate

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Abstract

Transparent conducting ZnO films were deposited using spray pyrolysis at different air-flow rates (Af). The films are polycrystalline with the most preferred orientation along c-axis [002] direction. The film deposited at Af = 15 lpm show uniform growth of vertically aligned nanorods with hydrophobic surface properties. The film exhibits high transmittance of 95% and dark conductivity of 85.2 Ω−1 cm−1 when deposited at Af = 15 lpm, with a corresponding carrier concentration of n = 3.25 × 1019 /cm3 and mobility of µ = 16.4 cm−2 V−1 s−1. The film thickness and crystallite size decrease with an increase in Af; however, the band gap energy increases from 3.181 eV to 3.254 eV. The band gap energy (Eg) and Urbach energy (Eu) were inversely related, indicating improved crystallinity with lower defect density for lower Eu. The film deposited at Af = 15 lpm shows the highest figure of merit, ΦTC = 1.69 × 10−3 Ω−1 and the lowest sheet resistance Rs = 353 Ω/□.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), under the scheme GOI-A-337(B) (79), Project No. RESPOND—97, through ISRO-UoP Space Technology Cell, University of Pune.

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  1. Department of Engineering Sciences and Humanities, Vishwakarma Institute of Technology, Pune, 411037, Maharashtra, India

    C. M. Mahajan

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Mahajan, C.M. Structural, Surface Wettability, Optical, Urbach Tail, and Electrical Properties of Spray Pyrolyzed ZnO Thin Films: Role of Air Flow Rate. JOM 75, 448–458 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11837-022-05621-5

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