Effects of Al-dopant concentration on the thermoelectric power factor of ZnO films prepared by spray pyrolysis deposition

Authors

  • Angelo Thomas S. Dris ⋅ PH National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman
  • Horace Andrew F. Husay ⋅ PH National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman
  • Elmer S. Estacio ⋅ PH National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman
  • Arnel A. Salvador ⋅ PH National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman
  • Armando S. Somintac ⋅ PH National Institute of Physics, University of the Philippines Diliman

Abstract

Semiconductor doping is the intentional introduction of impurities into an intrinsic semiconductor to control its properties. In this study, the effects of varying aluminum (Al) dopant concentration on the thermoelectric power factor, including Seebeck coefficient and electrical conductivity, of zinc oxide (ZnO) films were investigated. The films were fabricated using spray pyrolysis deposition followed by a post-annealing treatment. The films were characterized based on their structural properties using X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and their optical properties using UV-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. The Seebeck coefficient of the films was measured using a custom-made setup while the electrical conductivity was determined using the Van der Pauw method at room temperature. The XRD analysis, indicating decreasing lattice parameters and crystallite size, confirms the hexagonal wurtzite structure of the ZnO films and successful doping by Al substitution. The UV-Vis spectra, utilizing Tauc plot approximation, reveal a decreasing band gap energy with increasing doping levels. The measured Seebeck coefficients increase with doping concentration while the electrical conductivity is maximum at 2% Al-dopant concentration. The findings in this study suggests that Al-doping on ZnO enhances the thermoelectric power factor under optimized doping concentration.

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Issue

Article ID

SPP-2024-PA-10

Section

Poster Session A (Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science)

Published

2024-06-29

How to Cite

[1]
ATS Dris, HAF Husay, ES Estacio, AA Salvador, and AS Somintac, Effects of Al-dopant concentration on the thermoelectric power factor of ZnO films prepared by spray pyrolysis deposition, Proceedings of the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas 42, SPP-2024-PA-10 (2024). URL: https://proceedings.spp-online.org/article/view/SPP-2024-PA-10.