Characterization of CuO doped CdO nanomaterials synthesized by sol gel spin coating and hydrothermal method

CuO-CdO nanomaterials were synthesized by sol gel spin coating and hydrothermal methods. Undoped CdO and 0.2%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2% CuO doped CdO were produced as thin films and nanopowders. The structural, optical, and electrical properties of the thin films and nanopowders produced were investigated. It was determined by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis that thin films and nanopowders were polycrystalline and face-centered cubic structures. From Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) images, it was observed that the structure of the thin films was homogeneous and dense rod-shaped structures, and the nanopowders were urchin-like structures consisting of spherical nanoparticles from the Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) images. It was determined that nanopowder and thin films have direct band transition from Ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–Vis) analysis. From all the results obtained, it was concluded that structural, optical, and electrical properties of thin films and nanopowders vary depending on the doping rate and method differences.