Silver doping of thin CdS films by an ion exchange process

Thin CdS:Ag films, with different Ag content, were prepared from chemically deposited CdS thin films by an ion exchange process in a neutral AgNO3 thiosulphate complex. The crystal structure of the thin CdS:Ag films was studied by the X-ray diffraction method. Atomic absorption method was used to study the dependence of Ag content in the CdS:Ag thin film, as a function of the immersion time of CdS thin film in the AgNO3 solution. The increase of the dark conductivity and simultaneous decrease of the photoconductivity were related to the Ag increase in the compound. The optical bandgap of the CdS:Ag thin films was evaluated from the analysis of the transmission spectra. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.