Texture coefficient and band gap tailoring of Fe-doped SnO_(2) nanoparticles via thermal spray pyrolysis

An investigation of Fe-doping effect on SnO_(2) thin films was performed in this study using thermal spray pyrolysis(TSP) method.The surface morphology and structural,optical and electrical properties were studied by field energy scanning electron microscope(FESEM),X-ray diffraction(XRD),ultraviolet-visible(UV-Vis) spectroscopy and four-point probe method.FES EM images demonstrate that the surface morphology of the as-deposited films varies when Fe-doping content varies.XRD studies reveal that crystallite size and preferential growth orientations of the films are dependent on Fe-doping concentrations.The grain size is found to decrease with the increase in Fe content.These studies also specify that the films have tetragonal rutile-type structure with mixed secondary phases.The texture coefficient value of(110) plane increases with the concomitant in-plane(220) decrease in higher doping concentrations.The resistivity and the optical absorbance are found to increase with Fe concentration.The direct optical band gap decreases from 3.94 to3.52 eV with increasing Fe content.