Abstract
The aluminum–zinc-vacancy (AlZn−VZn) complex is identified as one of the dominant defects in Al-containing n-type ZnO after electron irradiation at room temperature with energies above 0.8 MeV. The complex is energetically favorable over the isolated VZn, binding more than 90% of the stable VZn’s generated by the irradiation. It acts as a deep acceptor with the (0/−) energy level located at approximately 1 eV above the valence band. Such a complex is concluded to be a defect of crucial and general importance that limits the n-type doping efficiency by complex formation with donors, thereby literally removing the donors, as well as by charge compensation.
© 2014 American Physical Society