Influence of Growth temperature on Spray Pyrolytically Deposited Cobalt Ferrite Thin Films

Magnetic nanoparticle (CoFe
2
O
4
) have sparked momentous attention in recent decades due to their prospective uses in high-density magnetic recording, capacitors, sensors, magnetic fluids, solar cells, data storage, Spintronics, and catalysis. Chemical spray pyrolysis was used to investigate the structural, micro-morphological, compositional, electrical, optical, and electrochemical properties of CoFe
2
O
4
thin films at various substrate temperatures. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis established the production of the spinel cubic phase with crystallite sizes in the 28 nm range. Images from scanning electron microscopy revealed a granular-like, porous, spherical surface shape. Between 2.02 and 2.09 eV, an optical bandgap with direct allowed-type transitions has been identified. The discharge peak at 382 nm is created by the recombination process of a CoFe
2
O
4
thin film, whereas the emission peak at 360 nm is due to transformation of charge carrier between Fe
³⁺
at octahedral sites and Co
²⁺
at tetrahedral sites, as well as its neighboring O
^2-
ions.