Deposition and tunable photoluminescence of Zn1–x(Mg,Cd)xO film system

Zn1–x(Mg,Cd)xO films were deposited on single crystal Si (1 0 0) substrate using ultrasonic spray pyrolysis under ambient atmosphere. The X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed the existence of a ZnO single-phase with a hexagonal wurtzite structure. A strong ultraviolet near-band-edge emission was observed in the room temperature photoluminescence measurement for all the as-grown Zn1–x(Mg,Cd)xO films, while the deep-level emission was almost undetectable, suggesting that the obtained Zn1–x(Mg,Cd)xO films are well close to stoichiometry and of optically high quality. The tunableness of optical emission spectra from 358 to 422 nm was realized by adjusting the Mg (Cd) concentration in the Zn1–x(Mg,Cd)xO films at extremely low cost. The photoluminescence spectra as a function of temperature were also investigated to examine the emission mechanism of Zn1–x(Mg,Cd)xO films.