Synthesis and Characterization of MgO Thin Films Obtained by Spray Technique for Optoelectronic Applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Photocatalysis

Background:

• Magnesium oxide (MgO) thin films are crucial for optical and photocatalytic applications.
• Optimizing MgO film properties is key to enhancing device performance and environmental remediation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and characterize MgO thin films with varying magnesium concentrations.
• To evaluate the structural, optical, and photocatalytic properties of the synthesized films.
• To determine the optimal conditions for MgO thin film growth for solar cell and water treatment applications.

Main Methods:

• Spray pyrolysis technique for MgO thin film deposition.
• X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Maud software for structural analysis.
• FTIR spectroscopy, confocal microscopy, spectrophotometry, and photoluminescence for property evaluation.
• Tauc relation for band gap estimation.
• Methylene blue degradation experiments for photocatalytic activity assessment.

Main Results:

• Optimized MgO thin film ([Mg2+] = 0.15 mol·L-1) exhibited enhanced crystalline quality and a crystallite size of 94.3 nm.
• Films showed high transparency (~91.48% in visible range) and IR reflectance, suitable for solar cells.
• A direct band gap of approximately 4.0 eV was determined.
• Achieved an 83% degradation rate of methylene blue within 180 minutes under sunlight.

Conclusions:

• The study successfully optimized MgO thin films for enhanced structural and optical properties.
• The developed MgO films show significant potential for use as optical windows or buffer layers in solar cells.
• The material demonstrates promising photocatalytic activity for the removal of organic pollutants from water.