Oxygen vacancy mediated enhanced photo-absorption from ZnO(0001) nanostructures fabricated by atom beam sputtering

Journal Article · Sun Aug 07 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4960515· OSTI ID:22597691

Solanki, Vanaraj; Joshi, Shalik R.; Mishra, Indrani; Varma, Shikha ^[1]; Kabiraj, D.; Avasthi, D. K. ^[2]; Mishra, N. C. ^[3]

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1. Institute of Physics, Sachivalaya Marg, Bhubaneswar 751005 (India)
2. Inter University Accelerator Center, New Delhi 110067 (India)
3. Department of Physics, Utkal University, Bhubaneswar 751004 (India)

The nanoscale patterns created on the ZnO(0001) surfaces during atom beam irradiation have been investigated here for their photo absorption response. Preferential sputtering, during irradiation, promotes Zn-rich zones that serve as the nucleation centers for the spontaneous creation of nanostructures. Nanostructured surfaces with bigger (78 nm) nanodots, displaying hexagonal ordering and long ranged periodic behavior, show higher photo absorption and a ∼0.09 eV reduced bandgap. These nanostructures also demonstrate higher concentration of oxygen vacancies which are crucial for these results. The enhanced photo-response, as observed here, has been achieved in the absence of any dopant elements.

• OSTI ID: 22597691
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 120, Issue 5; Other Information: (c) 2016 Author(s); Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
ABSORPTION
ATOMS
BEAMS
DOPED MATERIALS
IRRADIATION
OXYGEN
PERIODICITY
QUANTUM DOTS
SPUTTERING
SURFACES
VACANCIES
ZINC OXIDES