UV enhancement in polycrystalline Ag-doped ZnO films deposited by the sol–gel method

Undoped and Ag doped ZnO thin films are deposited by the sol–gel spin coating method. XRD spectra with prominent peaks along (1 0 0) (0 0 2) (1 0 1) show the polycrystalline nature of thin films. The particle size lies between 10 to 28 nm as estimated by Debye‐Scherrer method and 10 to 20 nm as estimated by WH plot method. Surface topology is studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Transmission spectra show that all the films are highly transparent (70–90%) in the visible and IR spectral region and absorption occurs near 370 nm. Sharp UV emission at 393 nm is observed in photoluminescence spectra of the films along with a broad green emission. Emission intensity of UV peak increases as amount of Ag incorporated into ZnO increases. It is enhanced 7 times by Ag doping in ZnO thin film. The intensity of green peak enhances at higher Ag doping percentage. - Highlights: • Polycrystalline Zn1−xAgxO thin films deposited by the sol–gel spin coating method. • Highly optical transmission (70–90%) was observed for all the samples. • Intensity of UV peak is enhanced 7 times by Ag doping in ZnO thin film