Photoluminescence of Ga-doped ZnO film grown on c-Al2O3 (0001) by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy

Abstract

High quality gallium doped ZnO (Ga:ZnO) thin films were grown on c-Al2O3(1000) by plasma-assisted molecular beam epitaxy, and Ga concentration NGa was controlled in the range of 1×1018–2.5×1020∕cm3 by adjusting∕changing the Ga cell temperature. From the low-temperature photoluminescence at 10K, the donor bound exciton I8 related to Ga impurity was clearly observed and confirmed by comparing the calculated activation energy of 16.8meV of the emission peak intensity with the known localization energy, 16.1meV. Observed asymmetric broadening with a long tail on the lower energy side in the photoluminescence (PL) emission line shape could be fitted by the Stark effect and the compensation ratio was approximately 14–17% at NGa⩾1×1020∕cm3. The measured broadening of photoluminescence PL emission is in good agreement with the total thermal broadening and potential fluctuations caused by random distribution of impurity at NGa lower than the Mott critical density.