Zinc oxide films prepared by sol-gel method

ZnO films with preferred orientation along the (0 0 2) plane were fabricated by the sol-gel method using a spin-coating technique. The effects of annealing process on the microstructure, transparent properties, and morphology of ZnO films were studied. The films which were dried at 300 degrees C and then postheated at 600 degrees C showed the preferred (0 0 2) orientation of ZnO and high transmittance above 80% in the visible range. Also, SEM images of the films showed microstructure consisting of many round shaped particles for the films heated at 400 degrees C and 500 degrees C and hexagonal particles as the temperature increased to 600 degrees C. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.