Effects of Cadmium Content on Optical Parameters of CdxZn1-xO Thin Films Prepared by Sol–Gel Method

Abstract

CdxZn1-xO thin films with different Cd contents ranging from 0 to 0.75 were prepared by the sol–gel spin-coating method. The optical parameters, such as optical band gap, absorption coefficient, Urbach energy, refractive index, dispersion parameter, and optical conductivity, were studied in order to investigate the effects of Cd content on the optical properties of the CdxZn1-xO thin films. The optical band gap and Urbach energy decreased as Cd content increased. The dispersion energy, single-oscillator energy, average oscillator wavelength, average oscillator strength, and refractive index at infinite wavelength of the CdxZn1-xO thin films were affected by Cd incorporation. The optical conductivity of the CdxZn1-xO thin films also increased with increasing photon energy.