High transmittance CdO thin films obtained by the sol-gel method

CdO thin films have been prepared by the sol-gel technique, from a novel pr ecursor solution based on Cd(OOCCH3)(2). 2H(2)O, ethylene glycol, glycerol, and triethylamine, on slide glass substrates. The films were annealed in o pen atmosphere at 200 degrees C and were characterized by UV-VIS spectrosco py, X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy. The CdO thin films obtai ned have a high polycrystalline quality and, outstandingly, they show a tra nsmission of 95% at a wavelength of 600 nm, which increases to virtually 10 0% from 700 to 1100 nm. The indirect and direct band gap energy values were found to be 2.06 and 2.59 eV, respectively. The resistivity of the films w as 2 x 10(-2) Omega cm. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.