Tailoring of optical band gap, morphology and surface wettability of bath deposited nanocrystalline ZnxCd(1−x)S thin films with incorporation of Zn for solar cell application

Abstract

Paper reports on the interesting changes that has been observed in the optical, morphological and physical properties of the chemical bath deposited (CBD) nanocrystalline ZnxCd(1−x)S thin films deposited on amorphous glass substrates. Optical bandgap has been found to be blue shifted from 2.28 eV for x=0.1 wt. % to 2.52 eV for x=0.9 wt. %. Besides, morphological studies showed dramatic change, flake-like morphology is changed to spherical particle with increasing content of Zn. Surface wettability property is found to be changed significantly from hydrophobic (water contact angle of 128°), for lower Zn content (x=0.1 wt. %), to hydrophilic (water contact angle of 22°), for higher Zn content (x=0.9 wt. %). Thickness is found to be decreased continuously with increasing content of Zn in the film.