Fabrication of Al3+ and large radii mismatch As5+ codoped p-ZnO thin film and homojunction

We report Al3+ and large radii mismatched As5+ codoped p-ZnO thin films by As back diffusion from GaAs substrate and sputtering Al2O3 (1, 2 and 4 at%) mixed ZnO target. Hall effect measurements showed that the hole concentration increased upon codoping (As5+ and Al3+) compared to the monodoped (As5+) film. Also, it showed that 1 at% Al doped ZnO:As has low resistivity with high hole concentration due to best codoping. The crystallinity of the films has been studied by X-ray diffraction. The p-type formation mechanism has been investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and low temperature photoluminescence analysis. It implies that As5+ substitutes on Zn2+ instead on O2 − site that leads to the formation of (AsZn–2VZn) complex which gives rise to p-conductivity. Further, the fabricated p-n homojunction using best codoped p-ZnO film shows typical rectifying characteristics of a diode.

► Al3+ and large radii mismatched As5+codoping to fabricate p-ZnO thin films.
► 1 at% Al doped ZnO:As showed lowest resistivity with high hole concentration.
► ZnO homojunction with best codoped ZnO film showed good rectifying characteristics.