Positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy of ZnO bulk samples

Abstract

In order to gain a further insight into the knowledge of point defects of ZnO, positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy was performed on bulk samples annealed under different atmospheres. The samples were characterized at temperatures ranging from $10\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}500\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$. Due to difficulties in the conventional fitting of the lifetime spectra caused by the low intensity of the defect signals, we have used an alternative method as a solution to overcome these difficulties and resolve all the lifetime components present in the spectra. Two different vacancy-type defects are identified in the samples: Zn vacancy complexes $({V}_{\mathrm{Zn}}\text{\ensuremath{-}}X)$ and vacancy clusters consisting of up to five missing Zn-O pairs. In addition to the vacancies, we observe negative-ion-type defects, which are tentatively attributed to intrinsic defects in the Zn sublattice. The effect of the annealing on the observed defects is discussed. The concentrations of the ${V}_{\mathrm{Zn}}\text{\ensuremath{-}}X$ complexes and negative-ion-type defects are in the $0.2--2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{ppm}$ range, while the cluster concentrations are 1--2 orders of magnitude lower.