Structural and optical insights to enhance solar cell performance of CdS nanostructures

[Display omitted] •Combined experimental and theoretical researches of CdS nanostructures.•Analyze the optical and structural properties of CdS nanostructures.•Characterize the CdS nanostructures of 2 and 3-D.•Verify refractive index and optical dielectric constant of CdS nanostructures.•Investigate the energetic transition for improving solar cells performance. Sol–gel spin coating technique is used to prepare nanostructured CdS deposited on glass and quartz substrates with Cd:S 1.2:0.1mol/L, 1000rpm spin coating speed at 400°C and 800°C annealing temperatures, respectively. The effect of hydrothermal treatment on physical properties of crystalline size and morphology is reported. Structural, topographical and optical properties are investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV–visible spectrophotometer (UV) and photoluminescence (PL). The optical properties are investigated experimentally and theoretically to verify the suitable model for electro-optical systems. Our results are in agreement with experimental and theoretical data.