Spray pyrolysis deposition of α-Fe2O3 thin film

Abstract

Transparent thin films of α-Fe2O3 have been deposited on glass substrates by chemical spray pyrolysis (CSP) technique using solution of aqueous iron (III) nitrate at 300-450°C. Their structural, optical, and electrical properties were investigated without post-deposition annealing. XRD data confirm that the grown film at 450°C was polycrystalline in nature and has preferred orientation in (110) direction while films grown at lower temperatures were amorphous. The film exhibits high average optical transmission (80%). The optical data revealed that the optical indirect and direct band gap energies of films were 1.9 eV and 2.68 eV respectively. Electrical measurements show that the deposited α-Fe2O 3 film is n-type and the electrical resistivity of the film was about 2.5 × 104 Ωcm. © 2008 The Surface Science Society of Japan.