Temperature dependence of electronic band transition in Mn-doped SnO2 nanocrystalline films determined by ultraviolet-near-infrared transmittance spectra

Mn-doped SnO2 (SMO) nanocrystalline films with the composition from 2.5 to 12.5% have been prepared on quartz substrates by pulsed laser deposition. The temperature dependence of electronic structures and optical constants in the SMO films have been investigated by transmittance spectra from 5.3 to 300 K. Optical response functions have been extracted by fitting the transmittance spectra in the photon energy range of 0.5–6.5 eV with the Adachi's model. It was found that the absorption edge presents a red-shift trend with increasing Mn composition, and the optical band gap (OBG) is varied between 4.22 and 3.44 eV. Moreover, as the Mn composition increases, the temperature dependence of OBG becomes weaker. The band gap narrowing value [(5.3 K)–(300 K)] has been reduced from 98 to 3 meV and linearly decreases with the Mn composition. The phenomena could be attributed to the transition from low doping level SnO2 band-like states to Mn-related localized states. Moreover, the Urbach energy shows the degree of the structural disorder, which could be explained by an empirical formulas in different temperature regimes.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► The temperature dependence of electronic structures has been investigated by transmittance spectra from 5.3 to 300 K. ► The optical band gap shows a red shift with increasing Mn composition and decreases with the temperature. ► The band gap narrowing parameter [Eg(5.3 K)–Eg(300 K)] linearly decreases with the Mn composition. ► There are two temperature regimes for the Urbach energy.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide