Effect of substrate temperature on structure and optical properties of Co₃O₄ films prepared by spray pyrolysis technique

Polycrystalline Co₃O₄ films of spinel cubic phase were prepared by spray pyrolysis on amorphous substrate. The deposition time was kept constant (30min) with variable ranges of substrate temperature (573-723 K). The structural and optical properties of films were studied. The average crystallite size calculated by Scherrer's equation was found to increase as substrate temperature increased. Very small particle size was achieved. Even at the highest deposition temperature, the size did not exceed 11.6nm. The average crystallite size obtained from AFM photos was ranged in from 182 to 248nm which reveals the presence of agglomerates. Optical data were recorded in the wavelength range 300-2500nm. A considerable difference in transmittance was observed for films prepared at different substrate temperatures. The absorption coefficient was measured and then correlated with the photon energy to estimate the energy gap, which was the value of the spinel phase with a direct transition