Synthesis and modification of ZnO thin films by energetic ion beams

Abstract

Zinc oxide has been the most versatile compound semiconductor, which is applied in diverse streams. Ion beams have been highly sophisticated and innovative tool for material modification and further characterization. In this article, we have systematically reviewed the ion beam synthesis, modification and further applications of ZnO thin films and nanocomposites. ZnO thin films synthesized, using low-energy ion beams, exhibit excellent quality. Ion implantation of ZnO leads to the improvement of electrical, optical and magnetic properties. Inert ion bombardment, on the one hand, results in the formation of uniform surface patterning on ZnO and on the other, produces nucleation centres for nanostructure growth. ZnO thin films also exhibit substantial radiation resistance, thus upon swift heavy ion irradiation, tuning of various properties can be explored with minimal/recoverable damage to the crystal lattice. In a few such studies, room temperature ferromagnetism, dissolution of metal cluster and recrystallization of ZnO have been observed. The precision of energetic ion beams and robustness of ZnO and its nanostructures have been explored for applications such as resistive random access memory, creation of hydrophophic and hydrophilic surfaces and dye degradation.

KEYWORDS:

• Energetic ions
• nano-patterning
• sputtering
• ZnO film
• dye degration
• RRAM

Acknowledgements

One of the authors (DKA) acknowledges the support by the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi under the schemes of Intensifying Research in High Priority Areas (IRHPA) and Nano Mission.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Richa Krishna

Dr. Richa Krishna was born on 1st Jan 1980. She completed her graduation from Lucknow Roorkee University (1997–2000). Later she did Master of Science in Physics from Indian Institute of Technology, (2000–2002) with 7.02 CGPA. Further, she completed PhD in Physics from Allahabad University in 2008 with UGC-NETJRF/SRF fellowship. She joined Amity University Uttar Pradesh as a Lecturer in 2010. Presently, she is Assistant Professor at Amity Institute of Nanotechnology, Amity University. Her research interest includes hybrid semiconductor nanostructures, doped semiconductors, core shell nanostructures etc. for optoelectronic applications. She is also interested in accelerator-based synthesis and characterization of semiconductor nanostructures. She has more than 10 papers in SCI publications to her credit and more than 25 research papers in conferences. She is the member of various scientific and professional bodies like Indian Physics Association and Ion Beam Society of India. She is also a member of peer review committee of different international publishers.

Dinesh Chandra Agarwal

Dinesh Chandra Agarwal, has been working in material science for over more than 15 years. He did Ph.D. and postdoctoral research on synthesis and modifications of ZnO nano structures using energetic ion beam. He also taught material science to the graduate student for more than five years. This background has given him a broad base to contribute in this article.

Devesh Kumar Avasthi

Prof. Devesh Kumar Avasthi is Ph.D. from Punjab University Chandigarh in 1982. After serving three and half year in Defence Research Development Laboratory, Hyderabad as Scientist, he joined Inter University Accelerator Centre (IUAC), Delhi in February 1986. After superannuation as Scientist H, Head of Materials Science and Radiation Biology at IUAC Delhi in December 2015, he joined Amity University in 2016 as Director, Directorate of Engineering and Technology. On 21st September 2020, Dr. Avasthi joined UPES Dehradun as Dean, Research. He has more than 700 research publications in international peer reviewed journals and has H factor of 50. He is Associate Editor of international journal ‘Radiation Effects and Defects in Solids’ by Taylor and Francis and has been in editorial board of international journal ‘Vacuum’ by Elsevier. He is member of several international conference committees. He is fellow of Institute of Physics, UK. He is Founder President of Ion Beam Society of India. His research interest are ion beam engineering of materials and nanostructures, plasmonics, materials for energy; thermoelectric materials, H generation by photoelectrochemical splitting of water and thermal storage, water remediation and nanobio sensors.