Structural, optical and electrochemical properties of SILAR-deposited zirconium-doped cadmium oxide thin films

Cadmium oxide (CdO) thin films were successfully deposited and doped with zirconium via a low-cost successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) technique using the source materials: cadmium nitrate (cation) and hydrogen peroxide solution (anion) onglass and stainless steel substrates. The morphological, structural, optical and electrochemical properties of the undoped and zirconium-doped films were investigated. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed granular films and decreasing grain sizes with increasing dopant percentages. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns revealed a cubic crystal structure of the films while optical analyses showed good optical properties of the films with reduced bandgap energy ranging from 2.07 eV to 2.10 eV after annealing. Electrochemical studies showed good electrochemical features of the annealed undoped and 2% doped cadmium oxide films. The deposited films find application in optoelectronic devices. (paper)