  Graded Al-doped ZnO layers, constituted by a mesoporous forest like system
evolving into a compact transparent conductor, were synthesized by Pulsed Laser
Deposition with different morphology to study the correlation with functional
properties. Morphology was monitored by measuring the resulting surface
roughness and its effects on electrical conductivity (especially carrier
mobility, which significantly decreases with increasing roughness) allow to
discuss the limitations in conduction mechanisms. Significant changes in light
scattering capability due to variations in morphology are also investigated and
discussed to study the correlation between morphology and functional
properties.

Materials Science;Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics