Structural, electrical, and optical properties of Co sub(x)Ni sub(1-x)O films grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

Thin films of cobalt-nickel oxide (Co sub(x)Ni sub(1-x)O, x = 0.01, 0.02, 0.08, 0.17, 0.22, 0.35, 0.56, 0.72) were grown on Al sub(2)O sub(3) substrate by atmospheric pressure metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (APMOCVD). The effect of the cobalt composition on the structural, morphological, optical, and electrical properties of the films was investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis revealed that all of the films grew with a preferred orientation towards [1 1 1] sub(NiO) and a twinned structure. Cobalt was well dispersed in the NiO structure up to x = 0.08. Co sub(x)Ni sub(1-x)O alloys were formed from x = 0.17 to x = 0.22, while phase-separated NiO and Co sub(x)Ni sub(1 - x)O formed when x > or = 0.35. The bandgap of the Co sub(x)Ni sub(1 - x)O film was found to decrease with increasing cobalt composition. Four-point probe measurements showed that the resistivity of the film also decreased with increasing cobalt composition, reaching a minimum of 0.006 [Omega]cm. Hall measurements of the films revealed n-type conductivity. The correlation between the presence of cobalt in different ionization states and the observed decrease in resistivity as well as the type of conductivity in Co sub(x)Ni sub(1 - x)O is discussed.