Effects of Homo-bu®er Layer on Properties of Sputter-deposited ZnO Films

Two-step growth regimes were applied to realize a homoepitaxial growth of ZnO films on freestanding diamond substrates by radio-frequency (RF) reactive magnetron sputtering method. ZnO buffer layers were deposited on freestanding diamond substrates at a low sputtering power of 50 W, and then ZnO main layers were prepared on this buffer layer at a high sputtering power of 150 W. For comparison, a sample was also deposited directly on freestanding diamond substrate at a power of 150 W. The effects of ZnO buffer layers on the structural, optical, electrical and morphological properties of the ZnO main layer were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, semiconductor characterization system and atomic force microscopy (AFM) respectively. The experimental results suggested that homo-buffer layer was helpful to improve the crystalline quality of ZnO/diamond heteroepitaxial films.