The effect of synthesis conditions and humidity on current-voltage relations in electrodeposited ZnO-based Schottky junctions

Poduska, Kristin M. and Chatman, Shawn (2009) The effect of synthesis conditions and humidity on current-voltage relations in electrodeposited ZnO-based Schottky junctions. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 1 (3). pp. 552-558. ISSN 1944-8252

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Abstract

Electrochemically produced ZnO/metal rectifying (Schottky) junctions can exhibit consistent barrier heights and high rectifying ratios when prepared using optimized electrolyte pH (6.5) and applied voltage ("-1.1 V vs. Ag/AgCl) conditions. An increase in soft breakdown for more acidic deposition electrolytes (pH 4) correlates with a diminished preferred orientation in the resulting ZnO electrodeposit. Forward-biased junctions exposed to increased relative humidities show increased current as a result of protonic conduction from water hydrolysis at the ZnO/air interface. At moderate to high relative humidities (50−85% RH), hydrophobic coatings improve the quality of the rectifying response by changing the wetting properties of the ZnO surface. Our findings suggest that electrodeposition, in conjunction with post-deposition surface coatings, can offer improved functionality for electron transport materials in wet or humid environments.

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