Spetroscopic ellipsometry study on electrical and elemental properties of Sb-doped ZnO thin films

Room-temperature spectroscopic ellipsometry data has been analyzed to determine the complex dielectric functions, ɛ(E) = ɛ1(E) + iɛ2(E) of as-deposited Sb-doped ZnO (SZO) thin films grown on n-Si(100) substrates by dual ion beam sputtering deposition system for different growth temperatures (Tg). The dielectric functions have been obtained from ellipsometry data analyses using Cody-Lorentz oscillator in the GenOsc model. A gradual reduction in the value of electron concentration and finally the conversion of doping characteristics from donor type to acceptor type was observed with the rise in Tg. This, in turn, resulted in the decline of broadening of ɛ1 peaks, and hence in the increase of excitonic lifetime. Optical band-gap energy was observed to decrease with increase in Tg from 200 to 300 °C, and then rise continuously with further increase in Tg. X-ray diffraction measurements showed that all SZO films had (002) preferred crystal orientation. Hall measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis confirmed that the change in the electrical conduction from n-to p-type was due to the enhancement in the value of Sb5+/Sb3+ ratio and SbZn-2VZn complex formation in SZO films.