Effect of quantum confinement and influence of extra charge on the electric field gradient in ZnO

Abstract

By means of electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR), it is shown that the Al impurity, which acts as a shallow donor in ZnO, leads to a significant reduction of the electric field gradient in ZnO single crystals. In ZnO quantum dots, however, the gradient on the Al sites remains virtually unchanged. When the Zn 2+ ion is substituted by Mn 2+ in a ZnO single crystal, the electric field gradient slightly increases (by about 20%). Therefore, the Mn 2+ ions can be used as probes to monitor the electric field gradients in ZnO crystals. © 2012 Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.