Eng. & Tech. Journal, Vol.31, No.

3, 2013

Study the Effect of Annealing Temperature on Some

Physical properties of CdO Thin Film Using
a Gas Sensor for CO and H2
Hayder Mohammed Ajeel,
University of Baghdad, Research of Materials Directorate/Baghdad
Email: asd [email protected]
Ashwaq A. Jabor
University of Baghdad, Research of Materials Directorate/Baghdad
Dr.Mohammad Khamas Khalaf
University of Baghdad, Research of Materials Directorate/Baghdad
Resoul Hussain Mukalaf
Ministry of Science and Technology, Research of Materials Directorate/Baghdad

Received on: 30/10/2011 & Accepted on: 4/10/2012

ABSTRACT
We have investing the effect of annealing treatment of CdO films,
deposited by chemical deposition using successive ionic layer adsorption
and reaction (SILAR) technique , on the film properties . The CdO thin
film were Prepared by using cadmium acetate at concentration (0.03M)
and base solution from ammonium hydroxide solution on glass substrate.
.It's found that the optical, electrical and gas sensing (H2, CO) properties of
the films are effected by the annealing temperature.
Keywords: Thin film; Cadmium oxide; Sensor and SILAR; Temperature of
annealing

CdO H2,CO

CdO
( SILAR)
. 0.03
.
H2 ,CO
.

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Eng. & Tech. Journal, Vol.31, No.3, 2013 Study the Effect of Annealing Temperature on Some
Physical properties of CdO Thin Film Using
a Gas Sensor for CO and H2

INTRODUCTION
hin film technologies play the pivotal role specifically in the field of
microelectronics, optical coating, integrated optics and superconductors etc. The
changes in chemical and electrical properties by the irradiation of the thin films are
utilized for optical and micro machines. By deposition of the oxide films like Sn,
Cd, Zn, and alloys [1-2] recently, semi-conducting, thin films of various oxide
materials like ZnO, SnO2 and CdO etc. have shown significant results as regard to
gas sensing properties [3- 4] which is tremendously being used in the field of gas sensors.
Numerous techniques are being used to prepare good oxide films. CdO thin film has its
own interest particularly in applications like transparent electrodes TCO (transparent
conducting oxide), optical switching and optical limiting etc. [5 -6]. Hall effect
measurement have been obtained by using HMS 3000 system(Ecopi A ,B = 0.55T) .The
results of relationships of (VH) and( I ) Show the n-type behavior of charge carries of the
prepared CdO thin films deposited by successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction on
glass substrates. These thin films have been used in gaseous sensors because they have got
a large energy gap and a capacity of a great adsorption of CO and H2.

EXPERIMENTAL
CdO thin films have been deposited on glass substrates using (SILAR) technique.
Aqueous solution of cadmium acetate [Cd(CH3COO)2.2H2O]has been taken as the source
cadmium(cation)in 0.03M. solution was prepared by mixture of cadmium acetate and
ammonium hydroxide. The complexing agent ammonium hydroxide was used to stabilize
the crystallite size. The pH of the prepared solution was measured and found 8.3 to be and
at 0.03M. The glass substrate was cleaned by chromic acid followed by distilled water
rinse. The cleaned substrate was immersed first in cadmium acetate (0.03M) and
ammonium hydroxide solution for 30s. and then immersed in quantitative amount of double
distilled water in 15s at 95C. The glass substrate was immersed in 0.005M of Hydrogen
peroxide (anion) solution for 40s, and then immersed in double distilled water in
30smaintained at the same temperature as shown in Figure (1). This cycle was repeated
several times in order to increase the overall film thickness of CdO. In this way, the
substrate was covered with a thin layer of the complex solution. The overall reaction
process can be expressed as decomposition of cadmium acetate to form cadmium oxide
when placed in Hydrogen peroxide as part of the CdO was deposited onto the substrate as a
strongly adherent film and they appeared in dark yellow is colour. Finally, we annealing the
film in air at different temperatures (400, 500) C for 35 minutes. As film thickness was
determined by weighing method using the formula:
t= w.t / A
A= L W

W = 0.003g , A = 2.5 2.5 = 6.25cm

= 7.14 g / cm

t = .0003 / 6.25 7.14= 672 nm .

Where 't is the thickness of the film, w is the weight gain, A is the area of the coated
film and is the density of CdO.
The possible chemical reaction that takes place on the substrate to produce CdO may be
as follows :

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Eng. & Tech. Journal, Vol.31, No.3, 2013 Study the Effect of Annealing Temperature on Some
Physical properties of CdO Thin Film Using
a Gas Sensor for CO and H2

Figure (1) SILAR setup and procedure for CdO thin film
preparation.

RESULTS AND EXAMINATION

X-ray diffraction (XRD) Aberrations.
CdO thin film prepared by SILAR system examined by X-ray diffraction do meter of
(Shemadzu CuK = 1.5A ) and Obtained patterns shows the Polycrystalline structure. The
peaks are appear due to diffraction from (111), (200) and (220) planes cubic phase
formation as compared with standard[X-ray diffraction data file [N 1997 JCPDS
prevalent].We observed that the increasing of annealing temperature of CdO thin films are
leads to increase the intensity as shown in Figure (2: a, b ,c). Grain size was calculated by
compensation values that were obtained from the X-ray diffraction patterns of the previous
figures in the Sherrer equation [7].

D = K / cos

. (1)

D: is the grain (G.S).

K: is a constant (0.94).
: is the wavelength of Cu K.
: is the Braggs angle .
: Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM).
The values of grain Size calculated from equation (1) and intensity after annealing more
than they are before annealing and the reason is the higher annealing temperature of the
CdO thin film improved structural properties of the thin films prepared due to the increase
of Crystallization to decrease structural defects of CdO thin films.
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Eng. & Tech. Journal, Vol.31, No.3, 2013 Study the Effect of Annealing Temperature on Some
Physical properties of CdO Thin Film Using
a Gas Sensor for CO and H2

Figure (2: a, b, c) XRD Patterns of CdO Thin films before and after annealing.
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Eng. & Tech. Journal, Vol.31, No.3, 2013 Study the Effect of Annealing Temperature on Some
Physical properties of CdO Thin Film Using
a Gas Sensor for CO and H2

Gases Sensitivity Measurements

The shown system in Figure (3) has been used to measure prepared CdO thin films
sensitivity for the (CO, H2).After connecting the deposited aluminum electrodes on the
CdO thin films with wires and the sample was fixed on a base inside a chamber. The
working gases were pumped in to the chamber and recording the change in thin films
resistance with time (per 10 seconds) and measure the current corresponding to the voltage
in absence and presence of the gases to determine the impact of them on CdO thin films:
We calculate the sensitivity(S) from as the following equation[ 2]:
S = ( Rg Ra) / Ra 100%.( 2) ,where,
Rg::Electric resistance of the thin film in presence of gas
Ra :Electric resistance of the thin film in absence of gas
CdO thin films suffer from the height of potential barrier in the reducer by using H2 gas
closed to 6 ppm; where ions (charge carriers) required a substantial amount of energy to
cross that barrier ,that means decrease conductivity, as well as a decrease in potential
barrier in the oxidizing gas such as CO and CO2because of the adsorption of oxygen and
the formation of pair (hole - electron) that increase the conductivity .

8
b

5
7
Figure (3) Gas Sensing measurement setup (1- Rotary pump vacuum bellows
2-conductivity tubes 3- vacuum head 4-reader of pressure 5- system
Chamber a- electrical feed through and pump gas b- Glass window c-Lead
throw 6- DC . Power supply 7- multi meter 8- metal base.

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Eng. & Tech. Journal, Vol.31, No.3, 2013 Study the Effect of Annealing Temperature on Some
Physical properties of CdO Thin Film Using
a Gas Sensor for CO and H2

PROPERTIES OF THE I - V
The voltage- current properties of the CdO thin films in absence and presence of CO
gas , are show in Figure (4: a and b) where the curve is linear at room temperature. This
manner depends on each of the gas and the used semiconductor type. If the gas was an
oxidizing factor such as CO ,the current value through the gas occurrence is greater than it
in gas absence because the ions move from the material having a lower tendency to grab
electrons, this material is called a reductive factor to the material having a higher tendency
to CO and it's also called the oxidizing factor. The first gas effect is oxidized and the
second is reduced, as shown in Figure (5: a and b).

Figure (4:a) The voltage current characterties in the absence and

presence of CO after and before annealing.

Figure (4:b ) The voltage current characterties in the absence and

presence of H2 after and before annealing.

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Eng. & Tech. Journal, Vol.31, No.3, 2013 Study the Effect of Annealing Temperature on Some
Physical properties of CdO Thin Film Using
a Gas Sensor for CO and H2

Figure (5:a) CdO thin film sensitivity CO after and before an

annealing.

Figure (5:b) CdO thin film sensitivity for H2 gas after and
before annealing.

Table (1) the resistance changes (increase or decrease) to

Change in gas atmosphere [6].

Classification

Oxidising Gases

Reducing Gases

p-type
n-type

Resistance decrease
Resistance increase

Resistance increase
Resistance decrease

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Eng. & Tech. Journal, Vol.31, No.3, 2013 Study the Effect of Annealing Temperature on Some
Physical properties of CdO Thin Film Using
a Gas Sensor for CO and H2

OPTICAL PROPERTIES

The absorption coefficient was calculated as a function of photon energy (h ) of

deposited CdO thin films and with annealing treatment as shown in Figure (6:a, b, c). We
are found that the absorption coefficients increased at the annealing temperature increased,
this behavior is attributed to local levels forming near the edge of conduction .
The optical energy gap for the prepared thin film is estimated to be in (2.8 -2.3) eV. The
energy gap is found to decrease with increasing annealing temperature as show in Table
(2). The decrease in energy gap is related to the increase in localized levels due to native
defects such as inters title Cd atoms and oxygen vacancies.
The optical energy gap value is calculated for an allowed direct transition of CdO thin films
before and after annealing by applying equation (3):
hv = A (hv-Eg)r ..(3)
Where A: Constant depends on the nature of the material, Eg : energy gap
In allowed direct transition r = 2 .A plot drawn between (h)2 versus h is shown in

Figure (7). The direct band gap energy of CdO has been obtained from the
intercept of the straight line drawn on the energy axis. Figure (8) shows the (h)1/2
versus h of the indirect band gap has been determined by the similar way. The
values of optical band gap obtained for direct and indirect transitions are shown in
Table (2 and 3), which indicates that both direct and indirect band gap decreases
with increase of annealing

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Eng. & Tech. Journal, Vol.31, No.3, 2013 Study the Effect of Annealing Temperature on Some
Physical properties of CdO Thin Film Using
a Gas Sensor for CO and H2

Figure (6):a. absorption coefficient ()as a function of photon energy (h )before annealing
b. absorption coefficient ()as a function of photon energy (h )at 400C annealing and c.
absorption coefficient ()as a function of photon energy (h )at 500C annealing.
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Eng. & Tech. Journal, Vol.31, No.3, 2013 Study the Effect of Annealing Temperature on Some
Physical properties of CdO Thin Film Using
a Gas Sensor for CO and H2

Figure (7):a. The energy gap as a function of photon energy (h

)before annealing b. The energy gap as a function of photon
energy (h )at 400C annealing c. The energy gap as a function of
photon energy (h )at 500C annealing.

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Eng. & Tech. Journal, Vol.31, No.3, 2013 Study the Effect of Annealing Temperature on Some
Physical properties of CdO Thin Film Using
a Gas Sensor for CO and H2

Table (2) the values of the energy gap before and after annealing.
Sample

CdO

Ta(C)
R.T

Eg(eV)

2.8
2.6
2.3

400
500

Figure (8):a. Indirect band gap energy (hv)1/2 as a function of

photon energy (h ) before annealing b. at 400C annealing
c. at 500C annealing.
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Eng. & Tech. Journal, Vol.31, No.3, 2013 Study the Effect of Annealing Temperature on Some
Physical properties of CdO Thin Film Using
a Gas Sensor for CO and H2

Table (3) the values of the indirect energy gap before and after annealing.

Sample

CdO

Ta(C)
R.T

400
500

Eg(eV) indirect
2
1.5
1.2

CONCLUSIONS
1-The results of the X-ray examinations that XRD of the prepared CdO thin films which
have a poly crystallization structure and have a cubic type before and after annealing. The
annealing led to an increase of the grain size .
2-The prepared CdO thin films had used to detect low ppm of the gases in the atmosphere,
which depend on the detection mechanism concept of the process of gases adsorption on
the semiconductor oxide surface based on the defects size presence and a crystalline
structure of a thin film, where oxygen atoms appear in the ions O2form on the thin film
surface , that work to form the depletion layer and the barrier potential growth at the
granular borders and it also represents a source of gas molecule shunting which are
adsorbed on the surface
3- The band gap 2.8 eV which was decreased to 2.3 eV after annealing. This has been
attributed to the decrease in defect levels.

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