Sol–gel derived Li–Mg co-doped ZnO films: Preparation and characterization via XRD, XPS, FESEM

Highlights: ► Li–Mg co-doped ZnO films have been deposited by sol–gel spin coating method. ► The structural and morphological properties of the films were characterized. ► The crystallite size values decreased with the increasing Mg content. ► The chemical composition of the Li–Mg co-doped ZnO films were confirmed by XPS. ► The absorption band edge values of the films increased with increasing Mg concentration. - Abstract: Li–Mg co-doped ZnO films have been deposited onto glass substrates by sol–gel spin coating method. The structural and morphological properties of the films were characterized by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy (XPS) and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The XRD spectra indicated that the films have polycrystalline nature. The crystallite size values decreased with the increasing Mg content. The chemical composition of the Li–Mg co-doped ZnO films were confirmed by XPS. Additionally, XPS results clearly showed the existence of Mg as a doping element into ZnO crystal lattice. The surface morphology of the films was found to depend on the concentration of Mg in the ZnO:Li. The absorption band edge values of the films were calculated and these values of the films increased with increasing Mg concentration. The refractive index dispersion curves of the films obeyed the single-oscillator model. The dispersion parameters such as Eo (single-oscillator energy) and Ed (dispersive energy) of the films were determined and increase with Mg content.