6–10 Jul 2026
University of the Western Cape
Africa/Johannesburg timezone
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Effect of substrate temperature on the structural, morphological, and optical properties of ZnO thin films deposited using the slot-die method

7 Jul 2026, 17:20
1h 20m
Great Hall (University of the Western Cape)

Great Hall

University of the Western Cape

Poster Presentation Track A - Physics of Condensed Matter and Materials Poster Session 1

Speaker

Fokotsa Molefe (North-West University)

Description

Numerous solution-based deposition methods, such as spin-coating and spray pyrolysis, are commonly used for depositing metal-oxide semiconductors, such as SnO2, TiO2, and ZnO for solid-state optoelectronic devices like sensors and photovoltaics. In this contribution, the effect of substrate temperature (Ts) on the structural, morphological, and optical properties of ZnO thin films deposited via the slot-die coating is investigated. The X-ray diffractograms revealed a hexagonal phase with progressive peak narrowing, increased intensity, and slight peak shift at higher Ts, indicating improved crystallinity and lattice distortion. Morphological analysis revealed that increasing Ts led to grain size growth and a reduction of grain boundary density. The UV-Vis measurements showed an increase in reflectance followed by the red-shifting of the absorption edge. The optical band gap, extrapolated from Kubelka-Munk, decreased with increasing Ts, suggesting improved optical conductivity. Photoluminescence studies demonstrated a reduction in defect density with increasing Ts, which aligns with increased crystallinity and reduced grain boundaries. This study establishes that the Ts modulates the structural, morphological, and optical characteristics of ZnO thin films, enabling more efficient optoelectronic devices.

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Author

Fokotsa Molefe (North-West University)

Co-authors

Mpilo Dlamini (North-West University) Dr Rhyme Setshedi (North-West University)

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