Structural, morphological, optical and electrical properties of CdS thin films simultaneously doped with magnesium and chlorine

Abstract

CdS thin films simultaneously doped with Mg and Cl at different doping concentrations (0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 at%) were prepared on glass substrates by spray pyrolysis technique using perfume atomizer at 400 °C. The effect of Mg and Cl doping concentration on the structural, morphological, optical and electrical properties of the deposited films were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy, UV–Vis spectroscopy and dc electrical measurements, respectively. XRD analysis showed that the undoped and doped CdS films exhibit hexagonal structure with a preferential orientation along the (0 0 2) plane. The 2θ angle position of the (0 0 2) peak of the doped films was shifted towards a higher angle with increasing Mg and Cl concentration. The UV–Vis–NIR absorption spectra of Mg and Cl doped thin films are measured and classical Tauc approach was employed to estimate their band gap energies. The increase in band gap energy from 2.46 to 2.73 eV with the reduction in crystallite size supports quantum size effect. Raman spectra implied that more defects existed in the doped samples. Electrical studies showed that all the films have resistivity in the order of 10¹ Ω-cm and the CdS film with 6 at% Mg and Cl concentration has a minimum resistivity of 1.332 × 10¹ Ω-cm.