Structural, optical and electrical studies on pulse electrodeposited CdIn2S4 thin films

CdIn2S4 thin films were prepared by pulse electrodeposition technique over F:SnO2 glass and stainless steel substrates in galvanostatic mode from an aqueous acidic bath containing CdSO4, InCl3 and Na2S2O3. The growth kinetics of the film has been studied and the deposition parameters such as electrolyte bath concentration, bath temperature, time of deposition, deposition current and pH of the bath are optimized. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the as deposited and annealed films shows polycrystalline nature. Energy dispersive analysis by X-ray (EDAX) confirms nearly stoichiometric CdIn2S4 nature of the film. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) studies show that, the deposited films are well adherent and grains are uniformly distributed over the surface of the substrate. The optical transmission spectra show a direct band gap of 2.16 eV. Conductivity measurements have been carried out at different temperatures and electrical parameters such as activation energy, trapped energy state and barrier heights etc. have been determined.