TUNABLE OPTICAL AND STRUCTURAL PROPERTIES OF NITROGEN AND COBALT CO-DOPED CDS NANOPARTICLES FOR OPTOELECTRONIC APPLICATIONS

Abstract

Cadmium sulfide, a II-VI semiconductor with a wide band gap, is a promising material for applications in spintronics, optoelectronics, and nextgeneration smart devices. This study investigates the synthesis, structural, and optical properties of nitrogen (N) and cobalt (Co) co-doped CdS and Cd0.96-xCo0.04NₓS nanoparticles (where x = 0, 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, and 0.08) prepared via a co-precipitation method at room temperature. X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement confirmed the formation of mixed cubic and hexagonal phases, with doping-induced lattice strain and nano crystallinity. Fourier transform infrared spectra revealed characteristic bonding features and the role of Co and N in stabilising the nanoparticles. UV-VIS analysis demonstrated tunable band gap energies, influenced by the Burstein-Moss effect and quantum confinement, ranging from 2.39 eV to 2.71 eV. The study highlights that Co and N doping enhances the optical and structural properties of CdS, making it suitable for optoelectronic technologies.