Influence of preparation conditions on the microstructure of ZnO thin film prepared by electrodeposition

The effect of electrochemical deposition duration and the heat treatment at 450 °С within 1 hour on the microstructure of ZnO thin films, including their phase composition, lattice parameters, microstrain, grain size and surface morphology is investigated. The empirical relationships allowing to predict the molar composition and the ZnO/FTO thickness ratio depending on the specific charge passing through the substrate during the film formation process have been obtained. According to scanning electron microscopy, there is a consolidation of the film crystallites after the heat treatment leading to formation of hexagonal nanorods. An average size of the crystallites before the heat treatment is 0.727 μm, and after the heat treatment it is 0.455 μ