Zinc Nitride Thin Films: Basic Properties and Applications

Redondo-Cubero, A., Gómez-Castaño, M., García Núñez, C. , Domínguez, M., Vázquez, L. and Pau, J.L. (2017) Zinc Nitride Thin Films: Basic Properties and Applications. In: Oxide-based Materials and Devices VIII, San Francisco, CA, USA, 29 Jan - 1 Feb 2017, 101051B. (doi: 10.1117/12.2253044)

Abstract

Zinc nitride films can be deposited by radio frequency magnetron sputtering using a Zn target at substrate temperatures lower than 250°C. This low deposition temperature makes the material compatible with flexible substrates. The asgrown layers present a black color, polycrystalline structures, large conductivities, and large visible light absorption. Different studies have reported about the severe oxidation of the layers in ambient conditions. Different compositional, structural and optical characterization techniques have shown that the films turn into ZnO polycrystalline layers, showing visible transparency and semi-insulating properties after total transformation. The oxidation rate is fairly constant as a function of time and depends on environmental parameters such as relative humidity or temperature. Taking advantage of those properties, potential applications of zinc nitride films in environmental sensing have been studied in the recent years. This work reviews the state-of-the-art of the zinc nitride technology and the development of several devices such as humidity indicators, thin film (photo)transistors and sweat monitoring sensors. © (2017) COPYRIGHT Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE). Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

• Item Type: Conference Proceedings
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Garcia Nunez, Dr Carlos
• Authors: Redondo-Cubero, A., Gómez-Castaño, M., García Núñez, C., Domínguez, M., Vázquez, L., and Pau, J.L.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Electronics and Nanoscale Engineering
• ISSN: 0277-786X