Current Photovoltaic Research ISSN:2288-3274(Print) 2508-125X(Online)

ZnO film has been used for CIGS solar cells as a buffer layer as itself or by doping Mg and Sn; ZnO film also has been used as a transparent conducting layer by doping Al or B for solar cells. Since ZnO itself is a host material for many applications it is necessary to understand the electrical and optical properties of ZnO film itself with various preparation conditions. We prepared ZnO films by converting ZnS precursor into ZnO film by thermal annealing. ZnO film was formed at low temperature as low as 500°C by annealing a ZnS precursor layer in air. In the air annealing, the electrical resistivity decreased monotonically with increasing annealing temperature; the intensity of the green photoluminescence at 505 nm increased up to 750°C annealing. The electrical resistivity further decreased and the intensity of green emission also increased in reducing atmospheres. The results suggest that deep-level defects originated by oxygen vacancy enhanced green emission, which reduce light transmittance and enhance the recombination of electrons in conduction band and holes in valence. More oxidizing environment is necessary to obtain defect-free ZnO film for higher transparency.