Optical and valence band studies of ZnP2 thin films

Abstract

Conditions have been developed for the preparation of ZnP2 and deposition of its stoichiometric thin films, using the flash evaporation technique. Structural properties of the ZnP2 obtained have been studied using x-ray diffraction, and chemical composition has been established by the polarography technique. Optical absorption of thin films of β–ZnP2 has been investigated over the range 1.2–3.2 eV. Analysis of thin film data showed that β–ZnP2 is a direct band gap material. The XPS and UPS of β–ZnP2 show a shift in binding energy (BE), which is due to transfer of electrons from zinc to phosphorus.