Realization of stable p-type ZnO thin films using Li-N dual acceptors

Highlights: → We have presented a promising Li-N dual acceptor doping method to realize p-type ZnO films via spray pyrolysis. → The influence of concentration of Li-N on the structural, electrical, and optical properties of p-type ZnO:(Li, N) films were investigated in detail. → It is found that (Li, N):ZnO films deposited on glass substrate show the preferential orientation of (002) plane. → The Hall Effect measurements exhibited p-type behaviour on (Li, N):ZnO thin films and the stability of the samples were verified by aging studies. - Abstract: Lithium and nitrogen dual acceptors-doped p-type ZnO thin films have been prepared using spray pyrolysis technique. The influence of dual acceptor (Li, N) doping on the structural, electrical, and optical properties of (Li, N):ZnO films are investigated in detail. The (Li, N):ZnO films exhibit good crystallinity with a preferred c-axis orientation. From AFM studies, it is found that the surface roughness of the thin films increases with the increase of doping percentage. The Hall Effect measurements showed p-type conductivity. The Hall measurements have been performed periodically up to seven months and it is observed that the films show p-type conductivity throughout the period of observation. The samples with Li:N ratio of 8:8 mol% showed the lowest resistivity of 35.78 Ω cm, while sample with Li:N ratio of 6:6 mol% showed highest carrier concentration. The PL spectra of (Li, N):ZnO films show a strong UV emission at room temperature. Furthermore, PL spectra show low intensity in deep level transition, indicating a low density of native defects. This indicates that the formation of intrinsic defects is effectively suppressed by dual acceptor (Li, N) doping in ZnO thin films. The chemical bonding states of N and Li in the films were examined by XPS analysis.