Iron doped ZnO thin films deposited by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis: structural, morphological, optical, electrical and magnetic investigations

Abstract

In this work, undoped and Fe-doped ZnO thin films at various concentrations (2, 4 and 6 at.%) were deposited onto glass substrate by using ultrasonic spray pyrolysis in order to investigate the effect of Fe doping on the structural, morphological, optical, electrical and magnetic properties of ZnO thin films. X-ray diffractometer (XRD) results revealed that all deposited thin films have hexagonal wurtzite structure and Fe doping led to decrease in mean crystallite size. Atomic force microscopy images showed that thin films were composed of tightly packed grains. Optical examinations indicated that optical transmittance remarkably decreased with the increase in the amount of Fe concentration in thin films. Additionally, optical band gap of deposited films were determined in the range of 3.26-3.29 eV. It was determined that all deposited thin films have n-type conductivity and electrical resistivity increased up to 253.6 Omega cm as a consequence of Fe doping. Vibrating sample magnetometer measurements showed that all films have ferromagnetic behavior.