Luminescence and nonradiative deactivation of excited states involving oxygen defect centers in polycrystalline ZnO

Abstract The green luminescence of polycrystalline ZnO is investigated by diffuse reflection, steady state and time-resolved photoluminescence as well as photoconductivity and is assigned to a donor-acceptor-type transition. Due to efficient quenching by surface states it is most effectively excited upon excitation into oxygen defect states. This “dead-layer effect” is used to determine the donor density (ND = 2.1 × 1018cm−3) and the flatband potential (Ufb = − 530 mV).