Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
Department of Physics, College of Science, Al-Nahrain University, Iraq.
Abstract
Keywords
INTRODUCTIONا
Cadmiumاsulfide (CdS) is a semiconducting material with several applications. The physical, electrical, mechanical, and chemical properties of semiconductor nanostructures have piqued interest in recent decades due to their uniqueness. Because of their essential nonlinear optical characteristics, binaryاmetalاchalcogenides ofاgroup II-VIاsemiconductorsاinاnanocrystallineاform are a rapidlyاexpanding research topic. [1], as well as luminous characteristics, the quantum size effect, as well as other importantاphysical and chemicalاproperties [2]. Cadmiumاsulfide (CdS) is a remarkable semiconductorاwith a massive bandاgap of 2.4 eV (in bulk) [3]. Has been studied for decades. Because of its uses in electrical devices such as field-effect transistors, [4,5], opticalاthinاfilms filters, nonlinearاintegratedاopticalاdevices, (LEDs)lightاemitting diodes, solar cells, photoconductors, and laserاheterostructures for visible spectrum emission, extensive research has been conducted in recent decades. Sol-gel Spin-Coating [6], metal organic chemical vapour deposition, RF sputtering, [7], electro deposition [8], chemical bath deposition, screen printing sprayاpyrolysis, thermalا evaporation [9], sequential ionicاlayerاadsorption reaction molecular beam epitaxy [10] have all been used to create CdS films. The “Sol-Gel” spin coating process is the most frequently utilized approach for cadmium sulfide thin film deposition. The simplicity, cheap cost, and capacity to produce homogenous films with high adhesion and repeatability are the major advantages of the sol-gel technique [4].
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The sol-gel method was used to create cadmium sulphide nanoparticles (CdS) films on the glass substrates at the various concentrations (X=0.5, 0.75, 1, and 1.25) M. The spin coating technique was used to make the cadmium sulfide thin films nanostructures at room temperature. Polyethylene glycol200 [C2nH4n+2On+1] For 1hour, 0.6ml of PEG, 0.5ml of Acetic-Acid [CH3COOH], and 8.9ml of ethanol [C2H5OH] were stirred together. To make a solution, combine 15mL of ethanol, (X) Mol/L of thiourea extremely pure (CH4N2S) as a source of S and (X) Mol/L of Cadmium-Nitrate Cd(NO3) 2.4H2O as a source of Cd, This solution was gradually added to the SOL. PEG while rapidly stirring for 2 hours, until a homogeneous solution was created. As the reaction continued, the reaction system gradually transformed from clear to brilliant yellow. To verify that all components were properly mixed, The final ideal solution was maintained at room temperature for at least 20 hours. Acetic acid and ethanol were used to clean glass substrates. the generated solution was spin coated for 30 seconds at a spinning speed of 2000 RPM on glass substrates. At this point, the precipitate was dried on a hot plate at 100 degrees Celsius. The CdS thin film nanostructure was described using XRD, FE-SEM, AFM and (UV–vis) .The “x’pert” high score application was used to analyse the “XRD” data.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Characterization of Structure and Morphology
Despite the fact that several strategies for creating theseا nanocrystallineا thinا films with controlled sizeا, shape ا, and crystallinityا are being researched, different factors impacting the size and form of these materials have yet to be discovered [5],.By changing the detector’s angle 2, the “Bragg” peak may be discovered.
where n is an integer. “Scherer’s” formula is used to calculate the grain size (D) in a polycrystalline film. [6]:
β where is the peak’s entire اwidth at half-maximumا (in radiansا), k = 0.94, and is the اBraggا angleا. Cu (k) was used as the radiation source, with a wavelength of 1.5406A.The dislocation density, which is a measure of crystallite defects [7],was calculated using Williamson and Smallman’s formula.
where D denotes the average crystallite size and n denotes the maximum dislocation density when equal to one.This section contains X-Ray-diffraction patterns for S0L-GEL ((CdS)) thin films on the glass substrates at various concentrations. The X-ray characterisation of materials is summarized in Table 1. The average grain diameters of the nanocrystallites D, dislocation density (δ), and film strain (Ԑ) were calculated using the Debye-Scherrer equation from the FWHM (full-width at half-maximum) of the (111) diffraction peaks and are shown in Table 1. [8]. illustrate the XRD-patternsا of the cadmiumا sulfide thinا filmا (Fig. 1), a deposit that was discovered
Atomic force microscopy (AFM)
AFM is an abbreviation for Atomicا ForceاMicroscopy. The surfaceا morphologyا of Cadmiumا sulfideا thinا filmا deposition on glass substrates at different concentrations was studied using AFM, as shown in the picture (Fig. 2). It was revealed that crystallization influences the roughness (R) of Cadmium sulfide thin films. With the highest intensity for film concentration 0.75 M, resulting in a film with high crystallinity and low average roughness, and the lowest intensity for film concentration 1 M, resulting in a film with low crystallinity and high average roughness. Table 2. shows that the greatest crystallinity and the least surface roughness, as well as the lowest Root Mean Square and the smallest particle size, have an inverse relationship.
Scanning electron microscope with field emission (FE-SEM)
A “ FE-SEM” is an analytical instrument that uses a beam of electrons to raster scan across surface, whole, or fractioned nanoscale objects to detect topographic features. The “FE-SEM” images of the cadmium sulphide CdS reveals that the cauliflower’s spherical particles contain clusters. These clusters consist of clusters of grapes that are separated from each other. This shape assistant to absorb wavelengths. Nucleation within growth gives superior absorption[9]. The average spherical diameters of the nanofilms range from 5.6 nm to 22.7 nm. Fig. 3. depicts the structure of the thin film. We can see from the FE-SEM image that the concentration (0.5 M) is in the form of spherical morphology of CdS nanoparticles with grain size 16.7 nm that are regularly scattered on the surface, and we can see that as the concentration increases, the growth of granules increases, as evidenced by the XRD examination. Nanoparticles having a grain size of 22.7 nm and regular diffusion The form of the installation is denser with the increase in concentration to (1M), and the cauliflower’s spherical particles include clusters and smaller volumes than the concentration (0.75 M), as demonstrated in the inspection. XRD shows that when the concentration of nanoparticles with a grain size of 5.6 nm increases, the surface becomes highly dense aggregates, as seen in Fig. 3D during inspection (AFM). The coating contains nanoparticles with a grain size of 6.8 nm, ensuring that the elements are protected. The structure grew consistently throughout the whole surface of the substrate thanks to nanospheres, implying thatا the CdS filmsا are tightly wrappedا around the substrateا and are homogenous There were no flaws or pinholes in any of the Cadmium sulfide films.
Optical Properties
Grasp semiconductor nanocrystal behavior demands a detailed understanding of optical characteristics such as absorption, transmission, and energygap (Eg). The difference in energy betweenا the empty conductionا band and the full valenceا band is a fundamental feature of semiconductors.Electrons traveling through the energy gap are not allowed to be photoexcited. In the visible-near infrared region, films with the lowest concentration have better transmittance, whereas those with larger concentrations have lower transmittance.[10,11] As seen in Fig. 4, the quantity of absorption varies depending on the molarity, with the optimum absorption spectrum being obtained by a thin film (1 M) with a uniform absorption spectrum for all visible wavelengths. The thin film has a high absorption rate (1M).
When it comes to optical properties, the surface roughness of a material may have a role. Using the energyاgap development curves, the energyاgap of theاCdSا thinاfilms was estimated. The energy gaps were approximated fromا the absorption peak and found to be between 2.30 and 2.5 eV Eg..as shown in and Fig. 5, and Table 2. results were in good agreement with those reported[12,13,14].
CdS thinاfilms have an energy bandgap in the region of 2.30–2.45 eV. According to Table 3. and Figs. 6 [11,12,15], the energyاgap of the films diminishes as concentration molarity rises. Due of the quantum confinement effect, the energy-gap” of the films increases with decreasing grain size [13,15]and The point of intersection of the two columns (particle size and energy gap) represents the optimization molarity that can be chosen to make photodetector. The observed energy-gap agrees well with the energy gap bulk. As a result, it is widely understood that the bandgap energy is affected by particle size, crystal structure, and strain [16,17].
CONCLUSION
The Spin-Coating process was used to deposit cadmium sulfide CdS nanostructured thinاfilms on the glassاsubstrates in various concentrations (X=0.5,0.75,1, 1.25) M. As molarity diminishes, so does the energy gap. which discovered that the greatest absorption spectrum has been recorded of a thin sheet (1 M) with a uniform absorption spectrum for all visible wavelengths We found that thin films with high absorption values (1M) are transparent in the visible range and have a high average roughness. based on FESEM study The presence of nanoparticles with grain sizes of 6.8 nm in the form of Nanospheres shape forms, The structure formed uniformly throughout the whole surface of the substrate, demonstrating that the cadmium sulfide coatings are homogeneous and securely wrapped to the substrate, with no cracks or pinholes. Cadmium sulfide thin film (1M) shows promise in optoelectronic applications.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this manuscript.