Preparation and characterization of dip coated cobalt oxide thin films

Abstract

In this work, cobalt oxide thin films were prepared by sol–gel dip coating technique by varying the withdrawal speed of the substrate in the sol and their optical properties were analyzed, using the UV–vis spectrophotometer. The optical constants (n and k) for these films, in the 300–900 nm range and band gap of thin films are evaluated. FTIR confirmed formation of Co₃O₄ thin films. X-ray diffraction showed polycrystalline films consisting of the Co₃O₄ phase. Magnetic properties, such as saturation magnetization, remanence, coercivity and squareness ratio were evaluated from the hysteresis loop. Saturation magnetization was in the range of 16·26–114·30 emu/cm³ and coercivity range was from 143·73–6·03 Oe.

Keywords:

• Cobalt oxide
• dip coating
• optical properties
• FTIR
• magnetic properties