Optoelectronic, magnetic and antibacterial properties of Zr-doped CdS thin films

In the present study zirconium doped CdS (CdS:Zr) thin films were prepared by spray technique using perfume atomizer and the effect of Zr concentration on the structural, morphological, optical, electrical, magnetic and antibacterial properties of the CdS thin films were studied. XRD studies confirm that both the undoped and doped films exhibit hexagonal crystal structure with a strong (0 0 2) preferential growth. Surface studies show the presence of nanoneedles in the doped films. EDX and XPS studies confirm the presence of Zr in the doped films. Increased transparency and band gap values were observed with Zr doping which was attributed to Moss-Burstein (MB) effect. The doped films exhibit ferromagnetic ordering in the form of S-shaped loops. The Zr-doped CdS films show excellent antibacterial efficiency against K. pneumonia (gram −ve) bacterium which makes them suitable in pharmaceutical device applications.