Thickness dependent physical property of spray deposited ZnFe 2O 4 thin film

Abstract

Thin film of spinel ferrite has wide range of application such as magnetic sensor, readng head for magnetic recording meda, switch mode power supplies, deflection yoke rings and spintronics devices. These wide applications are due to its high permeability, large resistivity, relatively high magnetization and low coercivity. In the present study spinel ZnFe 2O 4 with good adhesion on glass substrate have been prepared uslng home built spray pyrolysis unit from mixed zinc and iron nitrates of 1:2 M aqueous solutions. Photograph of the prepared film shows that as film thickness increases, the color of the film changes from golden yellow to red-brown and is due to increase in grain size. X-ray line broadening techmque was adopted to obtain grain size and microstrain. It was obsenred that the surface morphology and optical transmittance strongly depends on film thickness. Band gap of the film varies kom 2.08 to 2.70 eV as film thickness decreases. The effect of film thickness on crystalline nature, surface morphology and optical propedies were analyzed and reported. © 2012 Asian Network for Scientific Information.