Zn- and O-polar surface effects on Raman mode activation in homoepitaxial ZnO thin films

ZnO thin films were grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition on (0001) Zn- and O-polar surfaces of ZnO substrate. The surface morphology of these films was investigated by micro-Raman scattering and scanning electron microscopy. In the case of Zinc-polar face and using back scattering configuration, two new Raman bands were observed at 398 and 584.5 cm−1. They have been interpreted as quasi phonons TO (qTO) and LO (qLO) respectively. The origin of these modes was attributed to the particular morphology of ZnO films grown on Zn-polar face, which consists in cc-axis nano-platelets, randomly tilted from the substrate. qTO and qLO frequencies have been calculated using the model of Loudon. SEM observation is in agreement with our Raman interpretation.

► The morphology of homoepitaxial ZnO films was investigated by micro-Raman and SEM. ► Raman study of ZnO deposed on Zn-polar surface substrate reveals the quasi qTO and qLO modes. ► We showed that the disordered orientation of the ZnO platelets allowed qTO and qLO modes to occur. ► The Loudon model has been used to calculate the solid angle introduced by the optical collection. ► The inclination of the platelets was calculated using the Loudon model.