The precursor solution was prepared by sequential addition of 25 ml of 0.1 M cadmium chloride (Loba Chemie, India, 99.0%), 20 ml of 1 M sodium citrate (Loba Chemie, India, 98.0%), 5 ml of 1 M potassium hydroxide (Loba Chemie, India, 85.0%) and 20 ml of buffer (NaOH) pH = 10 (Loba Chemie, India, 98.0%) in a beaker. The solution was added with DI water to complete a total volume of 90 ml. The bath temperature was increased from room temperature and after reaching a bath temperature of 40 °C, 10 ml of 1 M thiourea (Loba Chemie, India, 99.0%) was added. The deposition temperature was maintained at 40 °C. The glass substrate was kept vertical in the beaker. A homogeneous layer with dark yellow color and with good adhesion to substrate of thicknesses depending on deposition time was obtained. After the deposition, the films were taken out of the bath and washed in DI water ultrasonically to remove the loosely adhered particles on the film and finally dried in air.
The surface topography of the films were studied in detail by atomic force microscopy (AFM) using a NT-MDT-NTEGRA PRIMA system. The images were acquired in air at room temperature in tapping mode of operation and at 256 × 256 pixels. Images were recorded at least at four different points on the sample surfaces and the results were consistent.
The surface topography of the films were studied in detail by atomic force microscopy (AFM) using a NT-MDT-NTEGRA PRIMA system. The images were acquired in air at room temperature in tapping mode of operation and at 256 × 256 pixels. Images were recorded at least at four different points on the sample surfaces and the results were consistent.