THE INTRINSIC SUBMICRON ZNO THIN FILMS PREPARED BY REACTIVE MAGNETRON SPUTTERING

The DC reactive magnetron sputtering of metallic target in oxide atmosphere is a simple method of depositing the intrinsic (undoped) nanocrystalline layers of metal oxides. We have optimized the deposition of the intrinsic ZnO thin films with submicron thickness 50-500 nm on fused silica glass substrates and investigated the localized defect states below the optical absorption edge down to 0.01 % using photothermal deflection spectroscopy from UV to IR. We have shown that the defect density, the optical absorptance and the related optical attenuation in planar waveguides can be significantly reduced by annealing in air at 400 degrees C.