Recent efforts on doping ZnO films for charge and spin functionality are reviewed, focusing on chemical doping for charge and spin device formation. Discussion includes the behavior of phosphorus as an acceptor and magnetism in transition metal-doped ZnO. Evidence for p-type behavior in phosphorus-doped (Zn,Mg)O grown by pulsed laser deposition is presented. The magnetic properties of ZnO co-doped with Mn and Sn are also discussed. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.