Hydrogen as a Donor in Zinc Oxide

Abstract

Hydrogen is found to diffuse into and increase the conductivity of single ZnO crystals. The diffusion rates have been obtained, as well as the temperature and pressure dependencies of the quantity of hydrogen in the crystal. This quantity is found to be influenced by the electrons already in the crystal. It is thought likely that hydroxyl groups are formed from the hydrogen and oxide ions. The donor center has an ionization energy of 0.04 ev.