Effect of doping on the surface modification of nebulizer sprayed Ba x Zn1−x O nanocrystalline thin films

The influence of Ba doped zinc oxide films were investigated by nebulizer spray pyrolysis technique at 673 K. X-ray diffraction reveals the polycrystalline hexagonal (wurtzite) crystal structure with (0 0 2) preferential orientation. Energy dispersive spectroscopy confirms the presence of Ba, Zn and O elements in the films. Field emission scanning electron microscopy shows that the surface morphology of the nanocrystalline films were changed from spherical shape structure to flake net-like shape and sprout like spherical structure with average grain size is ~100 nm due to the critical doping concentration. PL spectra prominent peaks corresponding to near band edge UV emission and intrinsic defect of the visible blue light region and defect related deep level green emission regions were discussed. The films are highly transparent in the visible region with a transmittance higher than 74%, and have an optical band gap energy values are increased from 3.22 eV to 4.02 eV depending on the Ba doping concentration. Interparticle like grains, grain boundary effect of deposited films is studied by complex impedance spectroscopy.