EPD-deposited ZnO thin films: a review

ZnO-based materials and specifically ZnO films with tailored morphology have been subjected to extensive research in the past few years due to their high potential for multiple prospective applications, mainly in electronics. Electrophoretic Deposition (EPD) constitutes an economical, ecofriendly, low energy consuming and easily scalable alternative to the high energy consuming evaporative techniques which are commonly used for the obtaining of these ZnO films. For its application, however, the use of stable, well dispersed suspensions is a necessary requirement, and thus a thorough study of their colloidal chemistry is essential. In this work the main contributions to the study of colloidal chemistry of ZnO nanoparticle suspensions and their shaping into ZnO films by EPD are summarized.