Contribution to the control of metal oxide thin films properties: analysis, characterization, and applications

Abstract

The aim of this work is to study the structural, morphological, electrical, optical and electronic properties of thin films of the metal oxides ZnO, Cu2O and CuO. To this end, we first used the pneumatic spray pyrolysis technique to deposit thin films of zinc oxide (ZnO) and studied the effect of manganese (Mn) doping on the properties of this metal oxide. Secondly, using the electrodeposition method, we developed thin films of Cu2O copper oxide. Firstly, we examined the influence of the temperature of the electrolytic bath on the properties of these layers. Thirdly, we performed ab initio calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) to investigate the structural, electronic and optical properties of CuO and Cu2O copper oxides using the Castep code with GGA (Generalized Gradient Approximation) –PBE (Perdew– Burke–Ernzerhof) approximations. Finally, we used SCAPS 1D (Solar Cell Capacitance Simulator 1 Dimension) to simulate the electrical behavior of solar cells based on the metal oxides ZnO, CuO and Cu2O. Exploring the effect of geometric and physical factors of these oxides on cell performance