STRUCTURAL AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF ZnO NANO PARTICLES GROWN ON COPPER SUBSTRATE BY ELECTRODEPOSITION METHOD

ZnO thin films which consist of nano particles have been deposited on copper substrates by the galvanostatic electrodeposition process using Zinc Nitrate as precursor. The effect of current density on structural, morphological and optical properties of ZnO films nano particles has been studied. Based on the results obtained from these studies, the optimum deposition conditions have outlined. The rate of deposition of ZnO thin film is found to be larger in an acidic solution than in a basic solution. Structural, morphological and optical properties of electrodeposited ZnO were investigated using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and optical absorbance. Analysis of diffractograms has revealed that electrodeposited films have crystallized in hexagonal structure with the reflection from (002) plane as strongest one. From the SEM micrographs, the grain size is observed to be in the range 1.0 mu m. Optical studies have showed that the band gap of the electrodeposited films varies from 3.59 to 3.72 eV depending on the current density.