Influence of UV light of extraterrestrial solar irradiance on structure and properties of ZnO films prepared through pulsed electrochemical deposition and via SILAR method

Abstract

The investigations of effect of long-wave (UVA) and short-wave (UVC) ultraviolet light of extraterres-trial solar irradiance on the nanostructured zinc oxide arrays, which were grown by pulsed electrodeposition, as well as on the ZnO and ZnO:In films produced by Successive Ionic Layer Adsorption and Reaction technique (SILAR) confirmed their suitability as UVA-active photosensitive materials. The crystal structure, surface morphology, chemical composition and optical properties found no obvious significant destructive changes after UVC irradiation. However, we detected some irreversible changes in the nature of point defects under the influence of UVC, which affect the ZnO and ZnO:In resistivity, activation energy, photosensitivity and thermoelectrical properties.