Spray pyrolized Ag-N co-doped p-type ZnO thin films' preparation and study of their structural, surface morphology and opto-electrical properties

This work focused on the fabrication of p-type ZnO material by Ag-N co-doping using spray pyrolysis technique and the characterization of structural, surface morphology and opto-electrical properties. Hall measurements reveal that Ag-N co-doped ZnO thin films are p-type materials and highest mobility is obtained for 2.5 mol% of Ag doping, keeping the concentration of N unchanged. The resistivity of the films depends on doping level and shows a minimum value (rho similar to 1.59 Omega-cm) with a carrier concentration of 4.09 x 10(16) cm(-3) for 2.5 mol% of Ag doping at the deposition temperature of 400 degrees C. X-ray diffraction study shows a single phase of ZnO up to 2.5 mol% of Ag doping level and after that a phase of silver oxide arises, which confirms that 2.5 mol% of Ag doping level is the optimum condition. The aging effect does not affect the p-type characteristics of the Ag-N co-doped ZnO films. (C) 2013 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.