Transport and band structure studies of crystalline ZnRh2 O4

Abstract

We report the synthesis and characterization of non- d10 p -type transparent conducting oxides of the normal spinel ZnRh2 O4. Undoped ZnRh2 O4 was successfully prepared by means of bulk solid-state synthesis. The conduction mechanism and bulk defect chemistry of polycrystalline sintered pellets of ZnRh2 O4 were studied through electrical conductivity and Seebeck coefficient measurements, in defect equilibrium at elevated temperature under controlled atmospheres. Optical diffuse reflectance measurements were also carried out to evaluate band gap. The data were analyzed in terms of an activated mobility (small polaron conduction), with a hopping energy of 0.25 eV. Results from band structure calculations by LDA+U and optical band-gap measurement by UV-visible spectrometry are in good agreement with literature data. © 2010 The American Physical Society.