Modulating the Electrical Properties of Lithium-Doped Zinc Oxide: Interplay of Lithium Content, Oxygen Pressure, and Temperature

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This research elucidates the intricate interplay of lithium content, oxygen pressure, andtemperature and their influence on the electrical properties of Lithium-doped zinc oxide (LZO). The electricalbehavior of zinc oxide (ZnO), a prominent semiconductor material, can be modulated when doped with lithium(Li). Through systematic experimentation, we demonstrate that varying lithium content in the ZnO matrixleads to notable shifts in carrier concentration and mobility, which in turn impacts the material's conductivityand overall electrical performance. Furthermore, oxygen pressure during synthesis plays a pivotal role indefect formation, especially oxygen vacancies, which interact dynamically with lithium dopants to furthermodulate electrical behavior. Introducing the variable of temperature, our study reveals a synergistic effect,where temperature not only affects intrinsic carrier concentration but also the interactions between lithiumdopants and inherent defects in ZnO. Under optimized conditions of oxygen pressure and temperature, theinfluence of Li content on crystallinity was pronounced, consequently impacting mobility. In contrast, underunoptimized conditions, as Li concentration increased, particularly beyond optimal levels (0.75 mol%),introduced Li atoms assumed the role of compensating centers by capturing or neutralizing carriers, reducingmobility. The findings presented herein provide a comprehensive understanding of how these factorscollectively determine the electrical properties of LZO, paving the way for tailored applications inoptoelectronic devices, sensors, and more.