Sol–Gel Synthesis of ZnO:Li Thin Films: Impact of Annealing on Structural and Optical Properties
A sol–gel deposition approach was applied for obtaining nanostructured Li-doped ZnO thin films. ZnO:Li films were successfully spin-coated on quartz and silicon substrates. The evolution of their structural, vibrational, and optical properties with annealing temperature (300–600 °C) was studied by X...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-12-01
|
| Series: | Crystals |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/14/1/6 |
| _version_ | 1827369672791556096 |
|---|---|
| author | Tatyana Ivanova Antoaneta Harizanova Tatyana Koutzarova Benedicte Vertruyen Raphael Closset |
| author_facet | Tatyana Ivanova Antoaneta Harizanova Tatyana Koutzarova Benedicte Vertruyen Raphael Closset |
| author_sort | Tatyana Ivanova |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A sol–gel deposition approach was applied for obtaining nanostructured Li-doped ZnO thin films. ZnO:Li films were successfully spin-coated on quartz and silicon substrates. The evolution of their structural, vibrational, and optical properties with annealing temperature (300–600 °C) was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), UV-VIS spectroscopic, and field emission scanning electron microscopic (FESEM) characterization techniques. It was found that lithium doping maintains the wurtzite arrangement of ZnO, with increasing crystallite sizes when increasing the annealing temperature. Analysis of the FTIR spectra revealed a broad main absorption band (around 404 cm<sup>−1</sup>) for Li-doped films, implying the inclusion of Li into the ZnO lattice. The ZnO:Li films were transparent, with slightly decreased transmittance after the use of higher annealing temperatures. The porous network of undoped ZnO films was transformed to a denser, grained, packed structure, induced by lithium doping. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:55:53Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7aa7a72a48344de6aedff728836e501e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4352 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T09:55:53Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Crystals |
| spelling | doaj.art-7aa7a72a48344de6aedff728836e501e2024-01-29T13:50:46ZengMDPI AGCrystals2073-43522023-12-01141610.3390/cryst14010006Sol–Gel Synthesis of ZnO:Li Thin Films: Impact of Annealing on Structural and Optical PropertiesTatyana Ivanova0Antoaneta Harizanova1Tatyana Koutzarova2Benedicte Vertruyen3Raphael Closset4Central Laboratory of Solar Energy and New Energy Sources, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Tzarigradsko Chaussee 72, 1784 Sofia, BulgariaCentral Laboratory of Solar Energy and New Energy Sources, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Tzarigradsko Chaussee 72, 1784 Sofia, BulgariaInstitute of Electronics, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Tzarigradsko Chaussee 72, 1784 Sofia, BulgariaGroup of Research in Energy and Environment from Materials (GREENMAT) Institute of Chemistry B6, University of Liege, B6aQuartier Agora, Allee du Six Août, 13, 4000 Liège, BelgiumGroup of Research in Energy and Environment from Materials (GREENMAT) Institute of Chemistry B6, University of Liege, B6aQuartier Agora, Allee du Six Août, 13, 4000 Liège, BelgiumA sol–gel deposition approach was applied for obtaining nanostructured Li-doped ZnO thin films. ZnO:Li films were successfully spin-coated on quartz and silicon substrates. The evolution of their structural, vibrational, and optical properties with annealing temperature (300–600 °C) was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), UV-VIS spectroscopic, and field emission scanning electron microscopic (FESEM) characterization techniques. It was found that lithium doping maintains the wurtzite arrangement of ZnO, with increasing crystallite sizes when increasing the annealing temperature. Analysis of the FTIR spectra revealed a broad main absorption band (around 404 cm<sup>−1</sup>) for Li-doped films, implying the inclusion of Li into the ZnO lattice. The ZnO:Li films were transparent, with slightly decreased transmittance after the use of higher annealing temperatures. The porous network of undoped ZnO films was transformed to a denser, grained, packed structure, induced by lithium doping.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/14/1/6sol–gelZnOfilm coatingsdopingstructural propertiesoptical transparency |
| spellingShingle | Tatyana Ivanova Antoaneta Harizanova Tatyana Koutzarova Benedicte Vertruyen Raphael Closset Sol–Gel Synthesis of ZnO:Li Thin Films: Impact of Annealing on Structural and Optical Properties Crystals sol–gel ZnO film coatings doping structural properties optical transparency |
| title | Sol–Gel Synthesis of ZnO:Li Thin Films: Impact of Annealing on Structural and Optical Properties |
| title_full | Sol–Gel Synthesis of ZnO:Li Thin Films: Impact of Annealing on Structural and Optical Properties |
| title_fullStr | Sol–Gel Synthesis of ZnO:Li Thin Films: Impact of Annealing on Structural and Optical Properties |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sol–Gel Synthesis of ZnO:Li Thin Films: Impact of Annealing on Structural and Optical Properties |
| title_short | Sol–Gel Synthesis of ZnO:Li Thin Films: Impact of Annealing on Structural and Optical Properties |
| title_sort | sol gel synthesis of zno li thin films impact of annealing on structural and optical properties |
| topic | sol–gel ZnO film coatings doping structural properties optical transparency |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4352/14/1/6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT tatyanaivanova solgelsynthesisofznolithinfilmsimpactofannealingonstructuralandopticalproperties AT antoanetaharizanova solgelsynthesisofznolithinfilmsimpactofannealingonstructuralandopticalproperties AT tatyanakoutzarova solgelsynthesisofznolithinfilmsimpactofannealingonstructuralandopticalproperties AT benedictevertruyen solgelsynthesisofznolithinfilmsimpactofannealingonstructuralandopticalproperties AT raphaelclosset solgelsynthesisofznolithinfilmsimpactofannealingonstructuralandopticalproperties |