Fabrication of cadmium oxide thin films using the Langmuir-Blodgett deposition technique

Thin conducting cadmium oxide (CdO) films were fabricated from Langmuir-Blodgett Cd arachidate precursors through a combination of low temperature ultra-violet/ozone (UVO) decomposition and annealing treatments. The decomposition and oxidation of the UVO residue to CdO occurred between 220 to 300 degrees C, and was observed using in-situ laser reflectivity and resistivity measurements. The final CdO film resistivities were in the 10(4)-10(5) Omega/square range, depending on annealing conditions. Atomic force microscopy revealed nanometre-scale surface roughness in the final film, which most likely resulted in the lower conductivity measured in the film as compared to bulk CdO fabrication techniques. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science S.A.