Enhanced photoelectrochemical responses of ZnO films through Ga and N codoping

We report on the crystallinity and photoelectrochemical (PEC) response of ZnO thin films codoped by Ga and N. The ZnO:(Ga,N) thin films were deposited by cosputtering at room temperature and followed by postannealing at 500 degrees C in air for 2 h. We found that ZnO:(Ga,N) thin films exhibited significantly enhanced crystallinity compared to ZnO doped solely with N at the same growth conditions. Furthermore, ZnO:(Ga,N) thin films exhibited enhanced N incorporation over ZnO doped solely with N at high temperatures. As a result, ZnO:(Ga,N) thin films achieved dramatically improved PEC response, compared to ZnO thin films doped solely with N at any conditions. Our results suggest a general way to improve PEC response for wide-band-gap oxides. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.