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An effect of precursor concentrations on the photodetection capabilities of CdS thin films for high-efficiency visible-light photodetector applications

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Abstract

Photo-conducting CdS films were coated on glass at 450 °C using cadmium chloride and thiourea as Cd and S sources, respectively, with different concentrations. The sprayed CdS films are crystallized in the hexagonal structure and orienting along (0 0 2) plane with good adherence. All the films have high optical absorption in the visible region showing optical bandgap values in the range of 2.39–2.43 eV. The variation of precursor alters the surface morphology of the films. The formed grains are uniformly spread over the substrate and highly agglomerated at 0.15 M concentration. Band to band emission and defect-related emission are reported using photoluminescence (PL) measurements. The CdS device shows relatively high photosensitivity of 0.4 A/W, detectivity of 8.46 × 1010 Jones, external quantum efficiency (EQE of 140%) with a rise time about 0.2 s and decay time about 0.3 s. These results propose that the CdS thin films are potential candidates for the visible photo-detector applications prepared using an easy and low-cost fabrication method.

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Acknowledgements

The authors extend their sincere appreciation to the Deanship of Scientific Research at Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University for funding this research through the Fast-track Research Funding Program.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of EIE, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Kattatankullathur, Chennai, 603203, India

    M. Dharani Devi & A. Vimala Juliet

  2. Department of Physics, Institute of Aeronautical Engineering, Dundigal, Hyderabad, 500043, India

    K. Hari Prasad

  3. Department of Physics, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, 11671, Saudi Arabia

    T. Alshahrani

  4. Advanced Functional Materials and Optoelectronics Laboratory (AFMOL), Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia

    A. M. Alshehri, Mohd. Shkir & S. AIFaify

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  1. M. Dharani Devi
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Devi, M.D., Juliet, A.V., Hari Prasad, K. 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 126, 960 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-020-04067-3

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