Electrochemicaly formed ZnO and Au/ZnO opal films

ZnO inverse opal films were synthesized electrochemically using aqueous and non-aqueous zinc acetate electrolytes and ITO deposited polystyrene opal matrices. The following thermal oxidation in air was performed for further application in optoelectronics. The overall composition and deposition potentials varied to reach uniform porous films with opal structure. Most uniform photonic film of ZnO with zincite structure has been deposited from DMSO electrolyte. Photoluminescence spectra of the ZnO coverages showed more complex spectra for precipitates sedimented from aqueous baths than from DMSO. Less deficient films of opal ZnO films deposited from DMSO demonstrated lower scattering effect compared to coverages deposited from aqueous electrolytes. Magnetron sputtering was applied for Au/ZnO composite film formation. The optical spectra of the Au/ZnO composite coverages correlate to spectra of uniform Au opal films.