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Structural and optical properties of thermally treated CdO thin films deposited on ITO coated glass substrates for photovoltaic applications

  • Original Paper: Characterization methods of sol-gel and hybrid materials
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Abstract

In this study, we have reported effects of post-deposition thermal treatment of cadmium oxide thin films on indium tin oxide coated glass substrates by sol–gel technique using spin coating method. To prepare CdO thin films, a precursor solution based on a derivative from cadmium acetate was gelated and subsequently coated on ITO/glass substrates. Spin coated CdO films were annealed in air at varied temperatures of 300, 400, and 500 °C. The crystallite size, microstrain and dislocation density were estimated from high resolution X-ray diffraction analysis. X-ray diffraction patterns confirmed cubic phase formation in polycrystalline CdO films. Cross-sectional and top surface morphology of the films was studied by field-enhanced scanning electron microscopy. The as-deposited and thermally treated CdO thin films for various annealing temperatures showed an increase in the optical transmittance to 79% from that of 63% of CdO film in the visible and near infrared region. Shrinkage in band gap from 2.6 to 2.4 eV was reported for temperature variation of 300–500 °C. The emission properties of as-deposited and thermally treated CdO thin films were studied by photoluminescence spectrum recorded at 298 K.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to University Grants Commission, New Delhi for the award of Junior Research Fellowship (UGC-JRF).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Electronic Science, University of Delhi South Campus, Benito Juarez Road, Delhi, 110021, India

    Sugandha Sharma & Avinashi Kapoor

  2. Rajdhani College, Department of Electronic Science, University of Delhi, Mahatma Gandhi Marg, Raja Garden, New Delhi, 110015, India

    Sanjeev Chaudhary

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  1. Sugandha Sharma
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  2. Sanjeev Chaudhary
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  3. Avinashi Kapoor
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Correspondence to Sugandha Sharma.

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Sharma, S., Chaudhary, S. & Kapoor, A. Structural and optical properties of thermally treated CdO thin films deposited on ITO coated glass substrates for photovoltaic applications. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 82, 315–321 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-016-4301-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-016-4301-z

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