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Structural and optical characterization of (Sn/Li) co-doped ZnO thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis technique

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Abstract

(Sn/Li) co-doped ZnO (LTZO) thin films have been deposited by spray pyrolysis technique and their structural, morphological and optical properties have been investigated. The films were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), field-emission scanning electron micrograph (FESEM), (UV–Vis) spectroscopy and photoluminescence spectroscopy. XRD results revealed that all thin films (LTZO) are polycrystalline with à hexagonal wurtzite structure, moreover when the Li reach (5 at.%) content, the surface thin films of (LTZO5) become covered with bigger and clear nano-sized crystallites and the average value of grain size is 147 nm with mainly hexagonal grains. The (UV–Vis) spectroscopy showed high transmittance in the visible region, which varied between 84% and 93% and the doping of 5 at.% for all the films of Li content thin films (LTZO5) red shifted. The doping ZnO with lithium and tin were eliminates the deep-level emission in orange/red bands (around to 600 nm).

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Acknowledgements

The author Ms. Amal Rherari is greatful to the Centre for Science &Technology of the Non-Aligned and Other Developing Countries (NAM S&T Centre), Department of Science and Technology, India for financial support. Also the authors thank Project Hassan II Academy of Science and Technology (PPR/2015/9 Project), Morocco. Our sincere thanks to Department of Nano Science and Technology, Karunya University, Coimbatore for providing XRD, UV and PL facilities. The author also wishes to express sincere thanks to Coimbatore Institute of Technology, Coimbatore, Alagappa University for providing FE-SEM, EDX, thin film thickness measuring facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Laboratory of Optoelectronic and Physical Chemistry of Materials, Ibn Tofail University, 14000, Kenitra, Morocco

    A. Rherari & M. Addou

  2. Laboratory of Materials and Valorisation of Natural Resources, University Abdelmalek Essaadi FST, Tangier, Morocco

    M. Addou

  3. Department of Sciences-Physics, Karunya University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, 641 114, India

    M. Haris

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Rherari, A., Addou, M. & Haris, M. Structural and optical characterization of (Sn/Li) co-doped ZnO thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis technique. J Mater Sci: Mater Electron 28, 15762–15767 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10854-017-7469-2

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