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Comprehensive Study on Nebulizer-Spray-Pyrolyzed Eu-Doped PbS Thin Films for Optoelectronic Applications

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Abstract

PbS films in undoped state and with various Eu contents (1 wt.%, 3 wt.%, and 5 wt.%) have been coated effectively on insulating glass substrates by a nebulized spray pyrolysis route. The effects of Eu doping on various properties including the photosensitivity of the PbS films were systematically analyzed. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the materials revealed a polycrystalline nature with crystallites showing simple cubic structure oriented along (200) direction. Based on the XRD data, the crystallite size, dislocation density, and lattice strain of the films with different doping concentrations were calculated and are consistently discussed. The secondary phase Eu3O4 formed when the Eu doping level was higher in the host solution. The Raman peaks detected at 190 cm−1, 236 cm−1, and 465 cm−1 confirmed formation of PbS. Scanning electron microscopy was used to reveal the morphology of the films as a function of the dopant concentration. Important optical properties including the bandgap, absorption coefficient, dielectric constant, index of refraction, and coefficient of extinction of the films are systematically reported. Optical study of the films revealed a variation of the bandgap from 2.14 eV to 2.81 eV with increasing Eu doping level. The 3 wt.% europium-doped PbS film showed better photosensitivity at 100 W/m2 compared with the other films based on current–voltage (I–V) measurements.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University, Saudi Arabia for funding this work through Research Groups Program under Grant No. R.G.P.1/207/41. A.K. acknowledges the Researchers Supporting Project (RSP-2019/127), King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar College, Usilampatti, Tamil Nadu, 625532, India

    K. Paulraj

  2. PG and Research Department of Physics, N.M.S.S. Vellaichamy Nadar College, Nagamalai, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, 625 019, India

    S. Ramaswamy

  3. Department of Physics, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education, Krishnankoil, Virudhunagar, Tamil Nadu, 626126, India

    S. Saravanakumar

  4. Advanced Functional Materials and Optoelectronics Laboratory (AFMOL), Department of Physics, College of Science, King Khalid University, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia

    Mohd Shkir & S. AlFaify

  5. King Abdullah Institute for Nanotechnology, King Saud University, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia

    Aslam Khan

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  1. K. Paulraj
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Correspondence to S. Ramaswamy, Mohd Shkir or Aslam Khan.

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Paulraj, K., Ramaswamy, S., Saravanakumar, S. et al. Comprehensive Study on Nebulizer-Spray-Pyrolyzed Eu-Doped PbS Thin Films for Optoelectronic Applications. J. Electron. Mater. 49, 5439–5448 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11664-020-08267-8

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