Investigation on the Deposition of the Nd doped ZnO Thin film and Their Structural and Optical Properties

Abstract

Zinc oxide (ZnO) and Neodymium-doped zinc oxide thin films were deposited onto the glass
substrates at 4000C by the spray pyrolysis method for various doping concentrations of
Neodymium (Nd) in the spray solution. The modification on the structural and optical
properties for various neodymium incorporation levels was investigated. The growth
orientation of the ZnO and Nd doped ZnO thin films were investigated by XRD patterns. All
the deposited films are polycrystalline in nature and the films exhibit hexagonal wurzite
structure with c-axis orientation along (002) direction. The grain sizes varied from 23-46 nm
with various concentrations of Nd. Morphological studies and composition of the films were
performed by SEM and EDX analyses, respectively. Formation of ring shaped patterns are
observed on the surface of the Nd doped ZnO thin film. This is confirmed with EDX spectrum.
PL spectra showed that Nd doped ZnO thin film exhibit a low density of native defects. Nd
doped ZnO thin films were obtained for the same deposition parameters such as spray time,
spray interval, compressed air pressure and distance between spray nozzle and substrate
were kept constantSelection and Peer-review under responsibility of [Conference Committee
Members of Recent Advances In Nano Science and Technology 2015.].