Effect of silver doping on optical properties of nanoflower ZnO thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis technique

Abstract

Silver doped zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films have been synthesized by spray pyrolysis method on the substrate at a temperature of 450 °C. The aqueous Zinc acetylacetonate (Z_nC₁₀H₁₄O₅) and silver nitrate (AgNO₃) dissolved in ethanol were used as a starting material. The effect of sliver doping on the structural, surface morphological, electrical as well as optical properties of Ag: Zno thin films were studied. It is confirmed by the X-ray diffractogram that the Ag: ZnO thin films was polycrystalline nature with the preferential orientation along (002) plane in wurtzite structure. The Scanning Electron Microscope exhibited the surface formation of nanoflower shaped grains with an addition of silver (Ag) and compositional analysis by Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy confirmed the presence of Zinc (Zn), Oxigen (O) and silver (Ag). Atomic force microscopy revealed that surface roughness of the films was decreased with the increase of silver concentration. The films were found to exhibit high transmittance and low absorbance in the visible /new infrared region.