Thickness-dependent morphological, structural, and optical properties of cobalt ferrite films

ABSTRACT

A facile and prudent approach has been developed to deposit cobalt ferrite (CoFe₂O₄) films on the surface of the precursor solution by purging ammonia vapors over it. The vigorous technique to control the thickness of the film attributes spectacular characteristics to this approach. The study of CoFe₂O₄ films has been carried out by using FE-SEM, AFM, XRD, and UV-Visible spectroscopy. FE-SEM micrographs confirm the formation of the thin films composed of nanoparticles. The AFM micrographs indicate an increase in the root mean square roughness value with purged NH₃ concentration due to the aggregation of nanoparticles. The observed XRD spectra show a cubic spinel structure of CoFe₂O₄ films with an increase in crystallite size in the range of 20–45 nm on increasing the NH₃ concentration. UV – Visible spectroscopic investigations show a decrease in the band gap energy from 2.84 to 2.37 eV on account of the increased concentration of NH₃ vapors.

KEYWORDS:

• Strategy
• CoFe₂O₄
• NH₃
• thin film

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Author contribution

Sweta Singh fabricated the research samples, analyzed characterization results and drafted manuscript. Rajesh Kumar supervised the whole work, characterized research samples. Vineet Sharma helped in writing the manuscript and co-supervised the work.