Abstract
The electrical and optical properties of cuprous oxide (Cu<sub>2</sub>O) thin films prepared by D.C. reactive magnetron sputtering technique have been systematically studied. The influence of the film deposition conditions on the opto-electrical properties has been investigated and has helped to solve the puzzles of difficulties associated with preparation of high quality Cu<sub>2</sub>O films. This is because there is usually co-deposition of phases of Cu, Cu<sub>2</sub>O and CuO during the preparation of Cu<sub>2</sub>O films. From this study, the films deposited at low substrate temperature were found to be less crystalline as compared to those deposited at high substrate temperature. This was corroborated by the drop in the sheet resistivity from ~55.08Ω cm to ~29.66Ω cm and the band gap from ~2.36eV to ~1.63eV for films prepared at substrate temperatures of 23°C and 170°C respectively. Annealing was also found to improve the film crystallinity.
Highlights
Cuprous oxide (Cu2O) is a non-stoichiometric defect semiconductor that is highly desirable semi- conductor oxide for use in solar cell application
Many techniques have been used in preparation of Cu2O thin films
Agumba Onyango John and Adem Abibo Jack: The Inter-play of the Opto-Electrical Properties of Cuprite and Tenorite Semi-conductors for Solar Cell Application to CuO, depending on the temperature and time allowed for the reaction
Summary
Cuprous oxide (Cu2O) is a non-stoichiometric defect semiconductor that is highly desirable semi- conductor oxide for use in solar cell application. Many techniques have been used in preparation of Cu2O thin films These include Copper thermal oxidation [17, 18], chemical oxidation [19], sol-gel method [20], electro-deposition [21], and gas-phase deposition that includes radio frequency (rf) magnetron or reactive sputtering, vacuum evaporation, molecular beam epitaxy and laser ablation [22]. Among these techniques, sputtering is a versatile and low-cost technique for preparing Cu2O thin films [23]. Agumba Onyango John and Adem Abibo Jack: The Inter-play of the Opto-Electrical Properties of Cuprite and Tenorite Semi-conductors for Solar Cell Application to CuO, depending on the temperature and time allowed for the reaction
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