A Detailed Evaluation of Zn:Cu Co-Doping Impacts on the Performance of Nanostructured CdO Thin Films

Abstract

This study focuses on the production and analysis of nanostructured CdO films co-doped with zinc (Zn) and copper (Cu) using the sol-gel spin coating technique. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that these films have a cubic crystalline structure typical of CdO. Surface morphology showed that both the doping ratio and the type significantly influence the microstructure of the films. The presence of O, Cu, Cd, and Zn in the initial solution was confirmed. The absorbance values of the prepared samples exhibit a positive correlation with the Cu content. In addition, the energy gap values were shown to be dependent on the Zn:Cu ratio. Conductivity, measured via the Hall effect, increased notably with Cu doping up to a 10% ratio. The results demonstrate the impact of Zn:Cu co-doping on the structural, optical, and electrical properties of CdO films, indicating their potential for optoelectronic applications.