Structural, optical, and electrical properties of cadmium oxide films deposited by spray pyrolysis

Abstract

Transparent conducting cadmium oxide films are prepared by the spray pyrolytic technique. The dependence of structural, optical, and electrical properties on the film thickness is investigated. X-ray diffraction studies confirm the polycrystallinity of the films and the films show preferential orientation along the (200) plane. The crystallite size and the dislocation density are also determined from the above patterns. The films show about 70% transmittance in the wavelength range 750 to 850 nm and the values of band gap and refractive index are in the order 2.35 to 2.50 eV and 1.95 to 2.65, respectively. Hall measurements indicate that the films are n-type, having carrier concentration ≈ 1026 m−3 and mobility (17.5 to 19) × 10−4m2/Vs.