Highly c-axis oriented ZnO thin film using 1-propanol as solvent in sol–gel synthesis

ZnO thin films were prepared by the sol–gel method, using two distinct solvents, ethanol (EtOH) and 1-propanol (1-PrOH). The influence of these two solvents on the crystallographic, morphological and optical properties of ZnO thin films was investigated. Highly c-axis oriented ZnO thin films, having grains with lengthened shapes and good optical absorbance were obtained using 1-PrOH as a solvent in the ZnO precursor sols.

► Highly c-axis oriented ZnO thin films were grown by the sol–gel method.
► We focused on the comparison of ethanol and 1-propanol, used as solvents.
► The precursor solutions and the obtained ZnO films were investigated.
► 1-propanol used as solvent can lead to high quality ZnO thin films.