Doping effect investigation of Li-doped CdS thin films

ABSTRACT

Li-doped CdS (CdS:Li) thin films with 0, 1, 2 and 3 wt-% Li concentrations were prepared by the spray technique using a perfume atomiser. The effect of Li doping concentration on the structural, optical, electrical and magnetic properties was systematically investigated and the results are reported in this paper. Analysis of the microstructure indicates that all the films consist of a hexagonal CdS phase with a strong (0 0 2) preferential growth texture. Nanoneedles were evinced from the SEM images of the doped films. Optical studies reveal that the transparency and band gap were dependent on Li-doping content. Hall effect measurements reveal that all the doped films exhibit p-type conductivity and the resistivity values strongly depend on the occupancy of Li atoms on the substitutional and interstitial sites of the CdS lattice. Room temperature ferromagnetism was observed for the doped films.

KEYWORDS:

• Doping
• preferential orientation
• ferromagnetism
• optical band gap

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.