Mechanisms of electronic conduction through thin film ZnS:Mn

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Abstract
Gold deposited by d.c. sputtering is found to form an ohmic contact to thin-film manganese-doped zinc sulphide (ZnS: Mn). This has facilitated the investigation of electron transport mechanisms in the bulk of thin-film ZnS: Mn, deposited by r.f. sputtering on to silicon substrates. Analysis of current density versus voltage characteristics as a function of temperature reveals the existence of ohmic and trap-limited space-charge currents. From analysis of these characteristics, the Fermi level in the ZnS: Mn is calculated to be 0.30 ± 0·01 e V below the conduction band edge, and a discrete trap is identified at 0.25 ± 0·01 eV with a density of approximately 2 × 1017 cm−3. Evidence suggests that the origin of this trap may be linked to sulphur vacancies.