Interfacial ZnS passivation for improvement of transparent ZnO/CuI diode characteristics

To fabricate a n-ZnO/p-CuI heterojunction diode with a high rectification ratio at a large junction area, γ-CuI film was spin-coated on ZnO. Since the n-ZnO/p-CuI diode showed a rectification ratio as small as 2.38 × 10², the ZnS interfacial layer was prepared by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction. By placing a ZnS layer between the n-ZnO/p-CuI, the rectification ratio from the diode increased to 1.71 × 10⁷ at a junction area of 1 cm². Modification of the valence band offset and the conduction band offset of the n-ZnO/p-CuI junction in the presence of the interfacial ZnS layer may facilitate carrier transport between ZnO and CuI. In addition, it was confirmed that two types of defects (oxygen vacancy and unpaired electron trapped on an oxygen vacancy) were reduced by insertion of an interfacial ZnS layer. A significant improvement in the rectification ratio resulted from the large decrease in the reverse current in the ZnO/CuI diode by a reduced amount of oxygen vacancies. Therefore, the improvement of band alignment with the decrease in the interfacial defects by the introduction of wide bandgap ZnS passivation layer enhanced the electrical characteristics of ZnO/CuI diode.