Characterization of electrodeposited undoped and doped thin ZnO passive films on zinc metal in alkaline HCO /CO buffer solution.

Electrochemical characterization of anodically grown thin ZnO films on pure zinc metal was studied in pH 9.2 bicarbonate/carbonate buffer solution. The different undoped passive films were formed potentiostatically in pH 9.2 borate buffer solution at processing anodic voltage ( ) of -1.04, -1.02, -1.0 and -0.99 V ( Ag/AgCl). While, various doped ZnO films were fabricated by anodizing the metal at a fixed potential of -1.00 V in the same borate buffer solution containing different amounts of LiCl or InCl. The electrochemical and semiconducting properties of all formed films were investigated using chronoamperometric measurements, EIS and Mott-Schottky analysis supported by scanning electron microscopy. The impedance results showed a direct correlation between and the value of either total resistance ( ) of undoped passive film or its thickness ( ). It is evident that anodization can afford better conditions for forming thicker compact passive films with more advanced barrier properties. On the other hand, decreases with increasing Li-doping level in the oxide film, and increases in case of In-doping. Interestingly, values of the doped films are always lower when compared to its value for the undoped film grown at -1.00 V, likely due to possible change in the film microstructure upon doping. For both undoped and doped ZnO films, Mott-Schottky plots reveals unintentional n-type conductivity with high electron density. Moreover, with increasing dopant level in ZnO host materials, Mott-Schottky analysis revealed a parallel correlation between charge carrier donor concentration ( ) and the passive film thickness ( ), where the trend of their values are to decrease for Li-doped and to increase for In-doped films.