Electrical and Optical Properties of P-type Amorphous Oxide Semiconductor Mg:$ZnCo_2O_4$ Thin-Film

Oxide semiconductors are attractive materials for thin-film electronics and optoelectronics due to compatibility with synthesis on large-area, glass and flexible substrate. However, development of thin-film electronics has been hampered by the limited number of semiconducting oxides that are p-type. We report on the effect of the oxygen partial pressure ratio in the gas mixture on the electrical and optical properties of spinel Mg:$ZnCo_2O_4$ thin films deposited at room temperature using RF sputtering, that exhibit p-type conduction. The thin-films are deposited at room temperature in a background of oxygen using a polycrystalline Mg:$ZnCo_2O_4$ ablation target. The p-type conduction is confirmed by positive Seebeck coefficient and positive Hall coefficient. The electrical resistivity and carrier concentration in on dependent Mg:$ZnCo_2O_4$ thin films were found to be dependent on the oxygen partial pressure ratio. As a result, it is revealed that the Mg:$ZnCo_2O_4$ thin-films were greatly influenced on the electrical and optical properties by the oxygen partial pressure condition. The visible region of the spectrum of 36~85%, and hole mobility of 1.1~3.7 $cm^2$/Vs, were obtained.