Studies of electronic structure of ZnO grain boundary and its proximity by using spatially resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy

The low electron energy loss and complex dielectric functions of an arbitrary grain boundary and its proximity in ZnO thin films have been studied by using the spatially resolved electron energy loss spectroscopy. The critical point parameters have been determined by fitting the dielectric functions simultaneously with analytical line shape model. Gradual changes have been observed in the dielectric functions spectra. The critical points are found to redshift and then blueshift when the electron beam scanned across the grain boundary, which suggest the distinctive electronic structure not only of the grain boundary but also of the depletion region. In addition, comparison has been made between the experiment and the recent theoretical studies to account for the interband transitions that occur in the grain boundaries. Several features predicted by the theory are qualitatively found to be consistent with our results. The presence of dangling bonds instead of bond distortion is attributed to be the major cause of defects in the grain boundaries of ZnO.