Opto-electronic properties of cerium-doped FTO thin films prepared using Nebulizer spray technique for TCO application

Abstract

Nebulizer spray pyrolysis, a facile thin film deposition method was adopted to fabricate pristine fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and cerium (Ce) doped FTO films. Structure-opto-electronic nature have been analyzed for the prepared films. X-Ray diffraction shows the tetragonal and polycrystalline nature with decrease in size of the crystallite on increasing Ce concentration. Raman spectral analysis exhibited Raman active mode, IR active mode and stretching vibration mode of Sn-O2 band. Smoothness of the film was increased with increasing doping concentration confirmed from AFM study. Photoluminacence (PL) analysis exposed the band edge and blue/green emissions in UV and visible regions. Transmittance of the films were increased with rising the doping concentration of Ce and highest transmittance of 81% was obtained for 1.5 wt.% Ce. Bang gap value was increased from 3.90 eV to 4.00 eV for pristine to 1.5 wt.% Ce doped film. High conductivity and carrier concentration were obtained for the doped films. The maximum figure of merit 3.2 × 10-3 Ω-1 was noted for 1.5 wt.% Ce doped film. Since the prepared film has highest transmittance and electrical conductivity, this may perform as an TCO material in optoelectronics.