Skip to main content
Log in

Influence of pH on the physical properties of CdS thin film and its photosensor application

  • Published:
Applied Physics A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Synthesizing thin films on various substrates and serving as electrodes for photosensor is challenging task. In this work, influence of pH on structural and optical properties of cadmium sulfide (CdS) thin film investigated using a chemical bath deposition method on a glass substrate. The fabricated CdS film was characterized by using an X-ray diffraction pattern and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). From the structural analysis study, it shows that CdS thin film has a hexagonal phase structure. FE-SEM analysis study revealed uniform and homogenous deposition on the glass. Moreover, at pH = 10, the smallest crystal size obtained ~3 nm. From optical properties, analysis shows that CdS has a 3.12 eV–3.13 eV bandgap. The electrical parameters for films show substantial growth in current after light illumination. Also, the photosensitivity found that their sensitivity to light increases with reduction in the pH value.

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

Access this article

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

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. C.S. Ferekides et al., CdTe thin film solar cells: device and technology issues. Sol. Energy 77(6), 823–830 (2004)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. G. Sasikala, P. Thilakan, C. Subramanian, Modification in the chemical bath deposition apparatus, growth and characterization of CdS semiconducting thin films for photovoltaic applications. Sol. Energy Mater. Sol. Cells 62, 275–293 (2000)

    Google Scholar 

  3. C. Thanachayanont, K. Inpor, S. Sahasithiwat, V. Meeyoo, MEH-PPV/CdS nanorod polymer solar cells. Korean Phys. Soc. 52, 1540–1544 (2008)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. C.S. Ferekides, D. Marinskiy, V. Viswanathan, B. Tetali, V. Palekis, P. Sevaraj, D.L. Morel, High effciency CSS CdTe solar cells. Thin Solid Films 361, 520–526 (2000)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. H.R. Moutinho et al., Deposition and properties of CBD and CSS CdS thin films for solar cell application. Thin Solid Films 436(2), 175–180 (2003)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. X. Wu, et al., High-efficiency polycrystalline CdTe thin-film solar cells with an oxygenated amorphous cds (a-CdS:O) window layer. 531–534 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1109/PVSC.2002.1190619

  7. M. Devi et al., An effect of precursor concentrations on the photodetection capabilities of CdS thin films for high-efficiency visible-light photodetector applications. Appl. Phys. A (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-020-04067-3

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. M. Shkir et al., A significant enhancement in visible-light photodetection properties of chemical spray pyrolysis fabricated CdS thin films by novel Eu doping concentrations. Sens. Actuators A Phys. 301, 111749 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  9. J. Zhao et al., Efficient CdSe/CdS quantum dot light-emitting diodes using a thermally polymerized hole transport layer. Nano Lett. 6(3), 463–467 (2006)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. U. Pal et al., Optical characterization of vacuum evaporated cadmium sulfide films. Thin Solid Films 305(1–2), 345–350 (1997)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. S.A. Mahmoud, A.A. Ibrahim, A.S. Riad, Physical properties of thermal coating CdS thin films using amodified evaporation source. Thin Solid Films. 372, 144–148 (2000)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. M.F. Rahman et al., A novel synthesis and characterization of transparent CdS thin films for CdTe/CdS solar cells. Appl. Phys. A 126(2), 145 (2020)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. A.S.Z. Lahewil et al., Structural and optical investigations of cadmium sulfide nanostructures for optoelectronic applications. Sol. Energy 86(11), 3234–3240 (2012)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. K. Veerathangam, M.S. Pandian, P. Ramasamy, Size-dependent photovoltaic performance of cadmium sulfide (CdS) quantum dots for solar cell applications. J. Alloy. Compd. 735, 202–208 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  15. R.R. Chamberlin, J.S. Skarman, Chemical spray deposition process for inorganic films. J. Electrochem. Soc. 113, 86–89 (1966)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. M. Shkir et al., A remarkable effect of Pr doping on key optoelectrical properties of CdS thin films prepared using spray pyrolysis technique for high-performance photodetector applications. Ceram. Int. 46, 4652 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  17. M. Shkir et al., A facile spray pyrolysis fabrication of Sm:CdS thin films for high-performance photodetector applications. Sens. Actuators A Phys. 306, 111952 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  18. M. Shkir et al., An effect of Zn content doping on opto-third order nonlinear characteristics of nanostructured CdS thin films fabricated through spray pyrolysis for optoelectronics. Phys. E Low-dimens. Syst. Nanostruct. 118, 113955 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  19. M. Shkir, S. Alfaify, Tailoring the structural, morphological, optical and dielectric properties of lead iodide through Nd3+ doping. Sci. Rep. (2017). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-16086-x

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. J. Chu et al., An in-situ chemical reaction deposition of nanosized wurtzite CdS thin films. Thin Solid Films 520(6), 1826–1831 (2012)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. J. Li, Preparation and properties of CdS thin films deposited by chemical bath deposition. Ceram. Int. 41, S376–S380 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Z.M. Kakhaki et al., Effects of buffer salt concentration on the dominated deposition mechanism and optical characteristics of chemically deposited cadmium sulfide thin films. Surf. Rev. Lett. 23(03), 1650014 (2016)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. S. Yılmaz et al., Surface modification of CBD-grown CdS thin films for hybrid solar cell applications. Optik 185, 256–263 (2019)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. S.U. Shaikh et al., Effects of air annealing on CdS quantum dots thin film grown at room temperature by CBD technique intended for photosensor applications. Mater. Res. Bull. 47(11), 3440–3444 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  25. J. Barman, J.P. Borah, K. Sarma, Effect of pH variation on size and structure of CdS nanocrystalline thin films. Chalcogenide Lett. 5, 265–271 (2008)

    Google Scholar 

  26. A. Kariper et al., Effect of pH on the physical properties of CdS thin films deposited by CBD. Chalcogenide Lett. 9, 27–40 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  27. R. Ochoa-Landín et al., Observations on the influence of pH control on the properties of chemically deposited CdS films in an ammonia-free system. J. Phys. Chem. Solids 70, 1034 (2009)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. B. Altiokka, A.K. Yildirim, Electrodeposition of CdS thin films at various pH values. J. Korean Phys. Soc. 72(6), 687–691 (2018)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. Q.Q. Liu et al., Morphological and stoichiometric study of chemical bath deposited CdS films by varying ammonia concentration. Phys. B 405(20), 4360–4365 (2010)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. D.A. Tonpe et al., Development of organic/inorganic PANI/ZnO 1D nanostructured hybrid thin film solar cell by soft chemical route. J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 30(17), 16056–16064 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  31. V.V. Kutwade et al., Enhanced photosensing by Mg-doped ZnO hexagonal rods via a feasible chemical route. J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 32(5), 6475–6486 (2021)

    Google Scholar 

  32. M. Barote, A. Yadav, E. Masumdar, Effect of deposition parameters on growth and characterization of chemically deposited Cd1-xPbxS thin films. Chalcogenide Lett. 8(2), 129–138 (2011)

    Google Scholar 

  33. R. Ramírez-Bon et al., Structural transition of chemically deposited CdS films on thermal annealing. J. Phys. Condens. Matter 9(45), 10051–10058 (1997)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. T. Ben Nasr et al., Effect of pH on the properties of ZnS thin films grown by chemical bath deposition. Thin Solid Films 500(1), 4–8 (2006)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. H. Ahmed, A. Khazeal, and F. Atallah, Effect pH on structural and optical properties of nanostructure CdS films prepared by chemical bath deposition technique. J. Unive. Anbar Pure Sci. 7(1) (2013)

  36. K. Subba Ramaiah et al., Structural and optical investigations on CdS thin films grown by chemical bath technique. Mater. Chem. Phys. 68(1), 22–30 (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  37. Y.-M. Mo et al., Synthesis of fluorescent CdS quantum dots of tunable light emission with a new in situ produced capping agent. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 51(17), 5995–6000 (2012)

    Google Scholar 

  38. H. Zhang, B. Chen, J.F. Banfield, Particle size and pH effects on nanoparticle dissolution. J. Phys. Chem. C 114(35), 14876–14884 (2010)

    Google Scholar 

  39. A. Romdhane et al., Effect of pH and ionic strength on the electrical charge and particle size distribution of starch nanocrystal suspensions. Starch - Stärke 67(3–4), 319–327 (2015)

    Google Scholar 

  40. B. Wei et al., Effect of pHs on dispersity of maize starch nanocrystals in aqueous medium. Food Hydrocoll. 36, 369–373 (2014)

    Google Scholar 

  41. R. Banerjee, R. Jayakrishnan, P. Ayyub, Effect of the size-induced structural transformation on the band gap in CdS nanoparticles. J. Phys. Condens. Matter 12, 10647 (2000)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. I.M.S. Mohammed et al., Effect of Cd/S ratio on growth and physical properties of CdS thin films for photosensor application. J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Electron. 31(13), 9989–9996 (2020)

    Google Scholar 

  43. M. Singh, M. Goyal, K. Devlal, Size and shape effects on the band gap of semiconductor compound nanomaterials. J. Taibah Univ. Sci. 12(4), 470–475 (2018)

    Google Scholar 

  44. K.C. Wilson, M.B. Ahamed, Influence of bath temperature on surface modification and optoelectronic properties of chemical bath deposited CdS thin film nanostructures. Mater. Sci. Eng. B 251, 114444 (2019)

    Google Scholar 

  45. B. Barman, K.V. Bangera, G.K. Shivakumar, Effect of substrate temperature on the suitability of thermally deposited cadmium sulfide thin films as window layer in photovoltaic cells. Superlattices Microstruct. 123, 374–381 (2018)

    ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors are highly thankful and would like to acknowledge the Department of Physics, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University Aurangabad for providing necessary laboratory facilities. The authors also like to acknowledge the UGC SAP and DST FIST program for providing financial support to our laboratory.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ramphal Sharma.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Mohammed, I.M.S., Gubari, G.M.M., Sonawane, M.E. et al. Influence of pH on the physical properties of CdS thin film and its photosensor application. Appl. Phys. A 127, 597 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-021-04743-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-021-04743-y

Keywords

Navigation