Structure and strong ultraviolet emission characteristics of amorphous ZnO films grown by electrophoretic deposition

Structure and ultraviolet emission characteristics of amorphous ZnO films grown on indium tin oxide coated glass substrates by electrophoretic deposition were investigated using Raman spectra and photoluminescence. The Raman spectrum shows a unique resonant multiphonon process within amorphous ZnO films. The photoluminescence spectrum of amorphous ZnO films shows a strong ultraviolet emission while the visible emission is nearly fully quenched. The transmission electron microscopy, x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectrum, and infrared spectrum are used to detect the structure of amorphous ZnO powder. The complex water plays an important role in the photoluminescence intensity emission.