Investigation of Al doping concentration effect on the structural and optical properties of the nanostructured CdO thin film

Nanostructured aluminium (Al) doped cadmium oxide (CdO) films with highly electrical conductivity and optical transparency have been deposited for the first time on soda-lime glass substrates preheated at 250 degrees C by ultrasonic spray coating technique. The aluminium dopant content in the CdO film was changed from 0 to 5 at%. The influencing of Al doping on the structural, morphological, electrical and optical properties of the CdO nano structured films has been investigated. Atomic force microscopy study showed the grain size of the films is an order of nanometers, and it decreases with increase in Al dopant content. All the films having cubic structure with a lattice parameter 4.69 angstrom were determined via X ray diffraction analysis. The optical band gap value of the films, obtained by optical absorption, was found to increase with Al doping. Electrical studies exhibited mobility, carrier concentration and resistivity of the film strongly dependent on the doping content. It has been evaluated that optical band gap, and grain size of the nanostructured CdO film could be modified by Al doping. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.