Effect of oxygen-related surface adsorption on the efficiency and stability of ZnO nanorod array ultraviolet light-emitting diodes

Ultraviolet light-emitting diodes using MgZnO-coated and bare ZnO nanorod arrays as active layers were manufactured. Both types were exposed to ambient air over a 1-yr period to assess their stability. By monitoring the electroluminescence evolution with air-exposure time and comparing the changes of electroluminescence and x-ray photoelectron spectra before and after vacuum desorption, it is concluded that surface-adsorbed O-2 and OH- species, as acceptor and donor surface states, quench ultraviolet electroluminescence, and favor undesirable surface-mediated nonradiative and deep-level recombination. The MgZnO coating prevents surface adsorption, and so the coated nanorod device shows higher efficiency and stability than the uncoated one. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4717714]