X-Ray Absorption Spectroscopy Study of Copper Doped ZnO Thin Films

X-ray absorption spectroscopy technique is used to study copper-doped ZnO thin films, prepared by pulsed-laser deposition. The samples with various doping levels are examined. It is found that the samples contain metallic clusters with the sizes ≤ 2 nm as well as Cu1+ and Cu2+ states. The Cu1+ states exist as stable oxide clusters, while the Cu2+ ones participate in the ZnO lattice some of which may be pertaining to the surfaces of the Cu clusters as well. The copper clusters of ∼1 nm are unstable and fragment under monochromatic x-ray beam illumination