Structural, electrical and optical properties of carbon-doped CdS thin films prepared by pulsed-laser deposition

CdS compounds have attracted interest due to their applications in optoelectronic devices such as solar cells and optical switches. The efficiency of these devices strongly depends on homogeneity, structural quality and morphology of the layers. The purpose of this work is to develop pure and carbon-doped CdS thin films on glass substrates, using pulsed laser deposition (PLD) process at relatively low deposition temperature. A computer controlled multi-target system allows the deposition of ITO conductive films as well as the one of pure or doped CdS films. In this case, predefined precise sequences of laser shots (KrF, wavelength 248 nm, pulse duration 20 ns) on the CdS and vitreous carbon targets, respectively lead to a well controlled carbon doping of deposited CdS films. Structural and chemical characteristics of the films and the multilayers investigated using XRD and Raman spectroscopy as well as optical and electrical properties are studied as a function of PLD deposition parameters and carbon doping.