Quenching of surface traps in Mn doped ZnO thin films for enhanced optical transparency

► First ever use of wet chemical method to prepare ZnO:Mn powders for PLD pellets. ► XRD spectra showed improved crystallinity of ZnO:Mn with post-deposition annealing. ► PL showed enhanced optical transparency and optical band gap in ZnO:Mn thin films by quenching the surface traps in these thin films. ► XPS confirmed the presence of Mn in its Mn2+ and Mn4+ oxidation states in ZnO:Mn thin films. ► FESEM showed well-defined nano-sized grains and smoother surface features in ZnO:Mn thin films at elevated temperatures.