ZnO: Hydroquinone superlattice structures fabricated by atomic/molecular layer deposition

• Inorganic–organic superlattices can be made by atomic/molecular layer deposition.
• This is demonstrated here for ZnO and hydroquinone (HQ).
• The ratio of the ZnO and HQ layers is varied between 199:1 and 14:1.
• The resultant thin films are crystalline.

Here we employ atomic layer deposition in combination with molecular layer deposition to deposit crystalline thin films of ZnO interspersed with single layers of hydroquinone in an effort to create hybrid inorganic–organic superlattice structures. The ratio of the ZnO and hydroquinone deposition cycles is varied between 199:1 and 1:1, and the structure of the resultant thin films is verified with X-ray diffraction and reflectivity techniques. Clear evidence of the formation of a superlattice-type structure is observed in the X-ray reflectivity patterns and the presence of organic bonds in the films corresponding to the structure of hydroquinone is confirmed with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements. We anticipate that hybrid superlattice structures such as the ones described in this work have the potential to be of great importance for future applications where the precise control of different inorganic and organic layers in hybrid superlattice materials is required.