Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of Zn doping on structural, morphological, optical and electrical properties of nebulized spray-deposited CdO thin films

  • Published:
Applied Physics A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Transparent and conducting pure and Zn-doped CdO thin films (0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 at.% Zn) have been successfully deposited on glass substrates at optimized substrate temperature of 200 °C by spray pyrolysis technique using nebulizer. Structural, morphological, optical and electrical properties of pure and Zn-doped CdO thin films are studied in detail. X-ray diffraction study confirms that all the CdO thin films were polycrystalline in nature with major reflection alone (111) plane having a cubic structure. The high average grain size (345 nm—SEM) and low RMS (6.46 nm—AFM) values are obtained for 3 at.% Zn-doped CdO thin films. The optical band gap energy had increased from 2.49 to 2.57 eV as the function of doping concentration had increased from 1 to 3 at.% Zn and thereafter decreased for higher doping concentration. A strong green emission and slightly shifted for Zn-doping concentration of CdO thin films exhibited by photoluminescence spectra. The CdO bond vibration confirmed by FTIR and Raman analyzes. The resistivity value of un-doped CdO thin film is 1.06 × 10−3 Ω cm and adding Zn-doped concentration, the resistivity consequently decreased to 6.2 × 10−4 Ω cm for 3 at.% Zn-doped CdO thin films and then furthermore increased. A high-quality factor (7.07 × 10−2) was obtained for 3 at.% Zn-doped CdO thin films.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. K. Fleischer, E. Arca, I.V. Shvets, Improving solar cell efficiency with optically optimized TCO layers. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 101, 262–269 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. L.L. Pan, K.K. Meng, G.Y. Li, H.M. Sun, J.S. Lian, Structural, optical and electrical characterization of gadolinium and indium doped cadmium oxide/p-silicon heterojunctions for solar cell applications. RSC Adv. 4, 52451–52460 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. M. Azizar Rahman, M.K.R. Khan, Effect of annealing temperature on structural, electrical and optical properties of spray pyrolytic nanocrystalline CdO thin films. Mater. Sci. Semicond. Process. 24, 26–33 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. L. Yu, All-in-situ fabrication and characterization of silicon nano-wires on TCO/glass substrates for photovoltaic application. Solid Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 94, 1855–1859 (2010)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. F. Yakuphanogly, Nanocluster n-CdO thin film by sol-gel for solar cell applications. Appl Surf. Sci. 257, 1413–1419 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. N. Ueda, Band gap widening of CdO thin films. J. Appl. Phys. 84, 6174–6177 (1998)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. S. Aksoy, Y. Caglar, S. LLican, M. Caglar, Effect of heat treatment on physical properties of CdO films deposited by sol–gel method. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 34, 5191–5195 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. M. Yuksel, B. Sahin, F. Bayansal, Nano structured CdO films grown by the SILAR method: Influence of silver doping on the morphological, structural and optical properties. Ceram. Int. 42, 6010–6014 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. P. Velusamy, R. Ramesh Babu, K. Ramamurthi, E. Elangovan, J. Viegas, M.S. Dahlem, M. Arivanandhan, Characterization of spray pyrolytically deposited high mobility praseodymium doped CdO thinfilms. Ceram. Int. 42, 12675–12685 (2016)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. B. Sahin, T. Taşkopru, F. Bayansal, Bandgap variation of nanostructure tin doped CdO films via SILAR processing. Ceram. Int. 40, 8709–8714 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. R. Kumaravel, K. Ramamurthi, V. Krishnakumar, Effect of indium doping in CdO thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis technique. J. Phys. Chem. Solids 71, 1545–1549 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. P. Velusamy, R. Ramesh Babu, K. Ramamurthi, J. Viegas, E. Elangovan, Structural, microstructural, optical and electrical properties of spray deposited rare-earth metal (Sm) ions doped CdO thin films. J. Matter. Sci. Mater Electron 26, 4152–4164 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. J.S. Cruz, G.T. Delgado, R.C. Perez, C.I.Z. Romero, O.Z. Angel, Optical and electrical characterization of fluorine doped cadmium oxide thin films prepared by the sol-gel method. Thin Solid Films 515, 5381–5385 (2007)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. P. Velusamy, R. Ramesh Babu, K. Ramamurthi, M.S. Dahlem, E. Elangovan, Highly transparent conducting cerium incorporated CdO thin films deposited by a spray pyrolytic technique. RSC Adv. 5, 102741–102749 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. R.K. Gupta, K. Ghosh, R. Patel, P.K. Kahol, Low temperature processed highly conducting, transparent, and wide band gap Gd doped CdO thin films for transparent electronics. J. Alloys Compd. 509, 4146–4149 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. A.M. El, A. Sayed, Ibrahim, Structural and optical characterization of spin coated cobalt-doped cadmium oxide nanostructured thin films. Mater. Sci. Semicond. Process. 26, 320–328 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. B. Gokul, P. Matheswaran, R. Sathyamoorthy, Influence of annealing on physical properties of CdO thin films prepared by SILAR method. J. Matter. Sci. Technol. 29, 17–21 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. L.R. Gutierrez, J.J.C. Romero, J.M.P. Tapia, E.B. Calva, J.C.M. Flores, M.O. Lopez, Some physical properties of Sn-doped CdO thin films prepared by chemical bath deposition. Matter. Lett. 60, 3866–3870 (2006)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. M. Anitha, N. Anitha, L. Amalraj, Influence of Precursor concentration on physical properties of CdO thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis technique using nebulizer. Appl. Phys. A 123, 764–779 (2017)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. N. Anitha, M. Anitha, K. Saravanakumar, L. Amalraj S. Valanarasu, Fabrication of antimony doped tin disulfide thin films by an inexpensive, modified spray pyrolysis technique using nebulizer. J. Phys. Chem. Solids 119, 9–18 (2018)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. M. Anitha, V. Tamilnayagam, N. Anitha, L. Amalraj, S. Gokul Raj, Investigations on the structural, electrical and optical properties of thin films of CdO(111). J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 28, 17297–17307 (2017)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. JCPDS—International Centre for Diffraction Data, Card No. 05-0640, 1997

  23. K. Usharani, A.R. Balu, Structural, optical and electrical properties of Zn-doped CdO thin films fabricated by a simplified spray pyrolysis technique. Acta Metall. Sin. 28, 64–71 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. K. Saravanakumar, V. Muthuraj, Fabrication of sphere like plasmonic Ag/SnO2 photocatalyst for the degradation of phenol. Optik 131, 754–763 (2017)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. A. Bagheri Khatibani, Z.A. Hallaj, S.M. Rozati, Some physical properties of CdO:F thin films prepared by spray pyrolysis. Eur. Phys. J. Plus 130, 254–266 (2015)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. J.S. Kim, H. Horwitz, G.P. Kushto, S.B. Qadri, Z.H. Kafafi, D.B. Chrisey, Transparent conducting Zr-doped In2O3 thin films for organic light-emitting diodes. Appl. Phys. Lett. 78, 1050–1052 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. H. Kim, C.M. Gilmore, J.S. Horwitz, A. Pique, H. Murata, G.P. Kushto, R. Schlaf, Z.H. Kafafi, D.B. Chrisey, Transparent conducting aluminum-doped zinc oxide thin films for organic light-emitting devices. Appl. Phys. Lett. 76, 259–261 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. Z. Ganjiani, F.M. Sheini, R. Yousef, Electrochemical synthesis and physical properties of Sn-doped CdO nanostructures. Superlattices Microstruct. 100, 988–996 (2016)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. L.L. Pan, G.Y. Li, J.S. Lian, Structural, optical and electrical properties of cerium and gadolinium doped CdO thin films. Appl. Surf. Sci 274, 365–370 (2013)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. A. Bagheri Khatibani, S.M. Rozati, Z.A. Hallaj, Synthesis and characterization of nanostructure CdO:Zn thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis technique: molarity and heat treatment effects. Mater. Sci. Semicond. Process. 16, 98–986 (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  31. B. Şahin, T. Taşköprü, F. Bayansal, Bandgap variation of nanostructure tin doped CdO films via SILAR processing. Ceram. Int. 40, 8709–8714 (2014)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Z. Serbetci, R.K. Gupta, F. Yakuphanoglu, Preparation and characterization of nanorods Sb doped CdO films by sol–gel technique. J. Sol–Gel. Sci. Technol. 61, 477–483 (2012)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. K. Saravanakumar, V. Muthuraj, M. Jeyaraj, The design of novel visible light driven Ag/CdO as smart nanocomposite for photodegradation of different dye contaminant. Spectrochim. Acta A 188, 291–300 (2018)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. M. Zaien, N.M. Ahmed, Z. Hassan, Fabrication and characterization of nanocrystalline n -CdO/p -Si as a solar cell. Superlattices Microstruct. 52, 800–806 (2012)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. S.B. Jambure, C.D. Lokhande, Photoelectrochemical solar cells with chemically grown CdO rice grains on flexible stainless steel substrates. Mater. Lett. 106, 133–136 (2013)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. T. Noorunisha, V.S. Nagarethinam, M. Suganya, D. Praba, S. Ilangovan, K. Usharani, A.R. Balu, Doping concentration and annealing temperature effects on theproperties of nanostructured ternary CdZnO thin films towards optoelectronic applications. Optik 127, 2822–2829 (2016)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. L. Amalraj, M. Jayachandran, C. Sanjeeviraja, Preparation and characterization of tin diselenide thin film by spray pyrolysis technique. Mater. Res. Bull. 39, 2193–2201 (2004)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. R. Ferro, J.A. Rodrıguez, Some physical properties of F-doped CdO thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis. Thin Solid Films 347, 295–298 (1999)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Department of Physics, V.H.N.S.N College (Autonomous), Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, 626001, India

    M. Anitha, N. Anitha & L. Amalraj

  2. Department of Chemistry, V.H.N.S.N College (Autonomous), Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, 626001, India

    K. Saravanakumar

  3. PG and Research Department of Physics, Arul Anandar College, Karumathur, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, 625514, India

    I. Kulandaisamy

Authors
  1. M. Anitha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. N. Anitha
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. K. Saravanakumar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. I. Kulandaisamy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. L. Amalraj
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to L. Amalraj.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Anitha, M., Anitha, N., Saravanakumar, K. et al. Effect of Zn doping on structural, morphological, optical and electrical properties of nebulized spray-deposited CdO thin films. Appl. Phys. A 124, 561 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-018-1993-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-018-1993-7

Search

Navigation