Non-linear optical and electrical properties of ZnO doped Ni Thin Films obtained using spray ultrasonic technique

In the present study zinc oxide doped Nickel thin films (ZnO:Ni) were deposited on glass substrates using a chemical spray ultrasonic technique. The effect of Ni concentration on the structural, electrical, optical, and non-linear optical (NLO) properties of the ZnO:Ni thin films was investigated. The films were analyzed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), profilometry and optical transmittance. A polycrystalline structure with a preferential growth along the ZnO (002) plane was found, the optical transmittance was found to be higher than 80% and the band gap (Eg) varied from 3.19 to 3.27 eV. The value of the electrical conductivity was found. Moreover, the effective non-linear quadratic and cubic electronic susceptibilities of thin film samples were determined by the SHG and THG techniques, working at 1064 nm.

Research highlights
► ZnO doped Ni thin films were deposited on glass substrates using a chemical spray ultrasonic technique.
► The effect of Ni concentration on the structural, electrical, optional, and nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of the ZnO:Ni thin films was investigated.
► Nonlinear optical characterisation has been performed by second harmonic generation and third harmonic generation (THG) measurements at 1064 nm.