Effect of Processing Parameters on Physical Properties of Cadmium Stannate Thin Films Prepared by a Dip-Coating Technique

Thin films of dicadmium stannate spinel (Cd2SnO4) were deposited on glass substrates using a dip‐coating technique. The films were transparent to visible light (90%) and electrically conductive. X‐ray diffractometry showed that annealed films consisted of a single cubic spinel phase only when they were prepared from a solution with the composition of Cd:Sn = 2.5 and fired at a temperature of 400°–500°C. The Cd:Sn ratio, the firing temperature, and the post‐deposition annealing sequence were crucial for the formation of a single phase, which is vital to obtain optimal optical and electrical properties. A resistivity as low as 3.3 × 10−4Ω·cm could be obtained after annealing.