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Effects of high-oxygen thermal annealing on structural, electrical and optical properties of undoped ZnO discs made from 40-nm ZnO nanoparticles

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Abstract

In this study, 40 nm nanoparticles of zinc oxide (ZnO) were used to prepare high-density ZnO discs. High-oxygen thermal annealing was found to have a significant effect on ZnO discs, especially in terms of grain growth enhancement. Moreover, unique secondary growth and multilayer grain growth of ZnO nanoparticles were observed. The strong solid state reaction during annealing was attributed to the high surface area of the ZnO nanoparticles, which promoted a strong surface reaction. The ZnO discs were found to contain an extremely high concentration of structural defects, as indicated by the dominant and broad visible photoluminescence emission. Furthermore, this visible emission was significantly increased after annealing treatment. Annealing treatment also improved grain crystallinity, as illustrated by the reduction of intrinsic compressive stress based on the X-ray diffraction lattice constant and full width at half maximum data. Electrical properties were also influenced by annealing treatment, with a marked drop in the breakdown voltage from 240 V (as-grown sample) to 140 V (800 °C sample). Resistivity also exhibited a dramatic drop from 240.2 kΩ cm (as-grown sample) to 72.26 kΩ cm (800 °C sample). Therefore, high-oxygen thermal annealing can be employed as a new technique for controlling the breakdown voltage of ZnO nanoparticle discs with improved structural properties.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by an APEX grant (1002/PFIZIK/910305) from Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM). We express gratitude to the Cultural Mission of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. We further acknowledge the priceless assistance from the NOR Lab of USM.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nano Optoelectronic Research (NOR) Lab, School of Physics, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Minden, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

    R. K. Sendi & S. Mahmud

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  1. R. K. Sendi
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  2. S. Mahmud
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Correspondence to R. K. Sendi.

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Sendi, R.K., Mahmud, S. Effects of high-oxygen thermal annealing on structural, electrical and optical properties of undoped ZnO discs made from 40-nm ZnO nanoparticles. Indian J Phys 87, 523–531 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12648-013-0249-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12648-013-0249-9

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