Physical Properties of Nanostructured Fe2O3 Thin films - Effect of Cobalt Doping Deposited by CSP

Abstract

Abstract Undoped Fe2O3 and Fe2O3: Co thin films with thickness 350 ± 25 nm deposited by chemical spray pyrolysis CSP method at temperature of 450°C. The results of X-ray measurements analysis revealed a polycrystalline pattern for all samples oriented along (110) plane. The films crystallites were oriented along (110) plane. The Grain size for Undoped showed an increase from 12.47 nm to 14.42 nm upon Cobalt doping, whilst dislocation density (δ) for Undoped showed an decreased from 64.30 to 48.09 upon Cobalt doping, whilst strain (ε) decreased for Undoped showed an decreased from 27.96 to 24.03 upon Cobalt doping. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) tests showed nano particles and a decrease in surface roughness. The root mean square roughness (Rrms) decrease from 6.36 nm to 7.61 nm by increasing the for Undoped Fe2O3 to Fe2O3:2% Co. Transmittance values of undoped Fe2O3 and Cobalt doped films reaches 80% to 90% in Vis- NIR regions. Optical measurements illustrate an increase in the Refractive Index, absorption coefficient and extinction coefficient with increasing Cobalt content in comparison to undoped Fe2O3 thin films.