Structural and optical properties of ZnO thin films prepared by sol-gel method with different thickness

▶ It is found that the thickness has a great effect on the structural and optical properties of ZnO thin films deposited from sol-gel method. ▶ With the increase of film thickness, both the crystalline quality and ultraviolet emission of ZnO thin film are gradually improved. ▶ The growth process of highly c-axis oriented ZnO thin films prepared by sol-gel method is a self-template process. ▶ With the increase of film thickness, a growth mode from vertical growth to lateral growth is found and the transition point is between 270 and 360 nm thickness.