Influence of firing temperature on the properties of CdO thin films obtained by the sol-gel method

CdO thin films were prepared by the sol-gel method, by using a precursor so lution with cadmium acetate dihydrate as metal source. The films were obtai ned on slide-glass substrates and fired in open atmosphere at 200-450 degre esC, at 50 degreesC intervals. The X-ray data show that the films are polyc rystalline with a NaCl cubic structure. The transmission of the films is 95 -100% at wavelengths greater than or equal to 600 nm, one of the highest ob tained so far for CdO thin films. The atomic force microscopy results show that the grains coalesce, which results in morphology changes as the firing temperature increases. The resistivity showed its minimum value around 300 degreesC (similar to 10(-3) Omega -cm).