Structural, chemical, morphological and optical properties of thin films based on potassium bis(2-methyllactato) borate hemihydrate doped by iodine

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics Vol. 33; no. 26; pp. 20778 - 20789
• Main Authors: Al-Bataineh, Qais M., Ahmad, Ahmad. A., Alsaad, Ahmad M., Aljarrah, Ihsan A., Telfah, Ahmad D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-09-2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Conduction bands; Crystal structure; Crystallites; Electrical properties; Electrical resistivity; Glass substrates; Iodine; Materials Science; Microstrain; Morphology; Optical and Electronic Materials; Optical properties; Optoelectronic devices; Potassium; Thin films
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-022-08887-2

Complex composite films of potassium bis(2-methyllactato) borate hemihydrate (KMB) doped with iodine (I
2
) were dip-synthesized on glass substrates in this work. The chemical, crystal, and morphological structures were investigated. Introducing I
2
into KMB host matrix forms KI molecules in the KMB complex composite, which increases the crystallite size and the microstrain in the film structure and consequently influences their optical and electrical properties. Introducing I
2
into KMB films leads to a decrease in the bandgap energy due to forming polarons between the valance and conduction bands. Introducing I
2
to KMB increases the sheet resistance. However, the conductivity of KMB and KMB-doped I
2
films has an inverse behaviour with the sheet resistance, which is attributed to decreasing the K
+
ions in KMB films due to forming KI molecules in the KMB-I
2
films. Based on the properties achieved in this work, KMB/I
2
complex composite films are feasible to be used in optoelectronic, photonic, and organic optical devices.