Structural and Optical Properties on ZnO-based Alloys

Abstract

In this work we report on structural and optical properties of ZnOMgO alloys. The alloys were synthesized using the combustion and co-precipitation methods, forming solid solutions of ZnO powders with MgO. SEM measurements show that the powders have sizes on the order of tens of nanometers, and XRD measurements indicate that the compounds produced are solid solutions of MgO in the ZnO lattice. The bandgaps of these solid solutions, as determined from reflectance measurements, increase with increasing MgO concentration. The luminescence measurements show emission from the bound exciton and from defects in the lattice. The excitonic emission shifts to higher energies as the MgO concentration increases.