Comparative studies on p-type CuI grown on glass and copper substrate by SILAR method

Depending upon the method of synthesis and the nature of substrate surface, there is variation in the physico-chemical properties of the material. Cuprous iodide films are deposited at room temperature on the glass and copper substrates by a simple SILAR method and the obtained results are compared. The p-type material with optical band gap 2.88 eV is found to be possessing face-centered cubic crystal structure with lattice parameter 6.134 Å. We observed irregular particles for the CuI film on the glass substrate while patterned arrays of micro-rods with cabbage like tips on copper substrate, for the same preparative conditions. Also, the material deposited on copper is showing superhydrophobic nature (contact angle ∼156°) while that on glass it is hydrophilic (contact angle ∼88°). We have characterized the thin films by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, surface roughness and contact angle measurement, thermoelectric power measurement and optical studies. This hydrophobic, p-type material with wide band gap will be helpful in the development of optoelectronic devices.