Effect of Gd3+ Ions on the Thermal Behavior, Optical, Electrical and Magnetic Properties of PbS Thin Films

• Published in: Journal of electronic materials Vol. 47; no. 2; pp. 1271 - 1278
• Main Authors: Ravishankar, S., Balu, A. R., Nagarethinam, V. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-02-2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Crystal structure; Crystallization; Differential thermogravimetric analysis; Doped films; Doping; Electron microscopy; Electronics and Microelectronics; Gadolinium; Grains; Image transmission; Instrumentation; Lead sulfides; Magnetic properties; Materials research; Materials Science; Metal ions; Optical and Electronic Materials; Optical properties; Physical properties; Rare earth elements; Solid State Physics; Thermal analysis; Thermodynamic properties; Thin films; X ray spectra; vacancies; rare-earth ions; x-ray diffraction; thickness; interstitials; impurities; Thermal stability
• ISSN: 0361-5235; 1543-186X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11664-017-5910-1

This paper reports the effect of Gd doping concentration on the thermal behavior, structural, morphological, optical, electrical and magnetic properties of PbS thin films. Gd doping concentration in PbS was varied as 0 wt.%, 1 wt.%, 2 wt.%, 3 wt.% and 4 wt.%, respectively. Thermogravimetric–Differential Thermal Analysis curves confirm that both the undoped and doped films become well crystallized above 354°C and 342°C, respectively. X-ray diffraction studies confirm that all the films exhibit face-centered cubic crystal structure with a strong (2 0 0) preferential growth. Undoped films exhibit triangular-shaped grains which modify to small cuboids with Gd doping. Energy dispersive x-ray spectra confirm the presence of Gd in the doped films. Transmission electron microscopy images confirm the presence of nanosized grains for both the undoped and doped films. The doped films showed increased transparency and improved magnetic behaviour. The results obtained confirm that Gd
3+
, a rare earth ion, strongly influences the physical properties of PbS thin films to a large extent.