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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 01 February 2011
Using μ-Raman spectroscopy (μRS) and cathodoluminescence (CL) analyses, the impact of hydrogen plasma treatments on sintered zinc oxide (ZnO) samples was studied. 1 hour H-plasma treatments (150 W, 13.56 MHz) were applied at substrate temperatures between 250 °C and 500 °C. μRS and CL analyses show that plasma hydrogenation causes significant defects in ZnO samples; i) non-specified defect species are established with a maximal density upon H-plasma exposure at 350 °C substrate temperature, and ii) the formation of oxygen vacancies (VO) can be traced. Moreover, μRS reveals vibration modes of H2 molecules trapped in nano-voids. The experimental results indicate that those nano-voids are created by a coalescence of the VO defects.