Visible photoluminescence of zinc oxide films electrochemically deposited on silicon substrates

Continuous crystalline films of zinc oxide (ZnO) with thicknesses of 6–10 μm were obtained by electrochemical deposition from aqueous zinc nitrate solutions on silicon substrates with a buffer nickel layer. X-ray diffraction measurements showed that the polycrystalline films possess a hexagonal crystal lattice with predominant (0002) orientation. The obtained ZnO films exhibit strong photoluminescence in the visible spectral range at room temperature.