Luminescence Properties of CdxZn1 – xO Thin Films

Abstract

Thin Cd_xZn_{1 – x}O films with a Cd content in the range from zero to 35 at % are synthesized by pulsed laser deposition. A record-breaking solubility limit of 30 at % of Cd in wurtzite-structured Cd_xZn_{1 – x}O thin films is attained. Apart from the exciton peak, additional peaks associated with an inhomogeneous distribution of Cd in the samples are observed in the low-temperature (10 K) photoluminescence spectra of Cd_0.15Zn_0.85O and Cd_0.3Zn_0.7O films. An unsteady (S-like) temperature dependence of the spectral position of the exciton photoluminescence peak in Cd_xZn_{1 – x}O films is observed. Such a dependence is associated with the effect of the localization of charge carriers.