Abstract
Zn-Ce-O films were prepared on an electrodeposited Ag layer in an aqueous solution containing a zinc nitrate hydrate and cerium nitrate hydrate. Their structural and optical characteristics were investigated using X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and reflectance measurements. The Ce content in the films changed from 0 to 43 mol% depending on the Ce concentration in the solutions. The ZnCe-O films were identified as a wurtzite ZnO containing Ce(Ce:ZnO) at 5% Ce and a mixture of Ce:ZnO and CeO2 containing Zn(Zn:CeO2) at 20-43% Ce. Zn-Ce-O films showed reflectance of greater than 60% in the visible light region. Its bandgap energy changed from 3.4 eV to 2.9 eV depending on the Ce content.
