Study of nonlinear-optical properties and roughness surface of ZnO:Zr thin films

Zinc oxide (ZnO) and zirconium doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Zr) thin films were deposited by reactive chemical pulverization spray pyrolysis technique on heated glass substrates at 450degC using zinc and zirconium chlorides as precursors. Effect of zirconium dopant and surface roughness on the nonlinear optical properties was investigated using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and third harmonic generation (THG).The best value of susceptibility chi⁽³⁾ was obtained from the doped films with less roughness. A strong third order nonlinear optical susceptibility chi⁽³⁾ = 20,49 times10^-12 (esu) of the studied films was found for the 5% doped sample at 450degC.